Lot 29

Early Percy Waters "Professional Tattooing" Oversize Business Card (Detroit, 1921) 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (8.3 x 10.8 cm.)

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Early Percy Waters "Professional Tattooing" Oversize Business Card (Detroit, 1921) 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (8.3 x 10.8 cm.)

Estimate: $800 - $1,200

Starting Bid: $400

(0 Bids)

by Bray & Co. Auctions
July 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
33 Jewell Court
Portsmouth, NH, US 03801

Early Percy Waters "Professional Tattooing" Oversize Business Card
(Detroit, 1921)
Rare and exceptional Percy Waters (1888-1952) business card depicting his iconic Waters graphic, 1050 Randolph St., Detroit, Michigan, 1921. Double-sided with tattoo supply business information on verso. Printed card.

Few individuals had a greater impact on the development of electric tattooing than
Percy Waters (1888-1952). Before plying needle and ink, Waters earned a hard living
as a mechanic and foundryman in Alabama and Tennessee. His life took an unex-
pected turn after encountering tattoo artist Andy Stuertz (see lot 6) with Buffalo
Bill's Wild West Show in 1914. By the following year, Waters had relocated to Detroit,
where he fell in with some of the country's leading tattooers and machine builders.
He wasted little time establishing himself in the trade, producing several ambitious
bodysuits on Detroit factory workers and day laborers that remain among the most
recognizable images in American tattooing.

Within a few years of arriving in Detroit, Waters opened what would become the
most successful tattoo supply business in the world, operating from multiple loca-
tions across the city. Through an extensive mail-order enterprise, he distributed
hand-crafted tattoo machines, inks, designs, stencils, and related equipment to
artists throughout the United States and abroad. By the mid-1930s, however,
Waters had returned to his hometown of Anniston, where he opened a shooting
gallery and arcade while continuing to supply the trade. Though he left Detroit
behind, Waters remained a prominent figure in tattooing until his death in 1952.

  • Dimensions: 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (8.3 x 10.8 cm.)
  • Condition: Bray & Co. Auctions is committed to providing accurate and thorough catalog descriptions, but prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to examine property in person or request additional information prior to bidding. Condition statements are offered solely as a courtesy and reflect our general observations at the time of cataloging; they should not be regarded as complete or definitive descriptions of condition, nor as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Certain imperfections, restorations, or signs of wear may not be specifically noted in written reports but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which form part of the overall condition description. Please consult our Terms of Sale for additional information, and contact Bray & Co. Auctions with any questions or requests for supplemental photographs or condition details.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000