Lot 103

Percy Waters Patriotic Tattoo Sleeves [Folk Art - Flash - Tattoo] (Detroit, ca. 1925) Each: 13 1/2 x 10 in. (34.3 x 25.4 cm.)

Previous image preload Next image preload

Percy Waters Patriotic Tattoo Sleeves [Folk Art - Flash - Tattoo] (Detroit, ca. 1925) Each: 13 1/2 x 10 in. (34.3 x 25.4 cm.)

Estimate: $800 - $1,200

Current Bid: $950

(13 Bids)

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

Percy Waters Patriotic Tattoo Sleeves [Folk Art - Flash - Tattoo]
(Detroit, ca. 1925)
Two rare sheets of hand-colored commercial tattoo flash sold by Percy Waters (1888-1952), Detroit, Michigan, ca. 1925. Each depicts an elaborate full-arm sleeve design, one corresponding to the sleeve tattooed on Waters's right arm. Photographic comparison may establish the second design as the sleeve worn on his left arm. Paint on photographic prints. From the collection of Ralph Miller.

Ralph Miller (1937–2008) spent much of his life in and around Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, where he worked in his family's paint store and, for roughly two decades, tattooed from a custom-built mobile studio. Little is known about how he became interested in tattooing, but by 1956 he had already received work from Coney Island artist Max Pelz and was corresponding with Philadelphia mainstay Professor Harry Hoff. Photographs of Miller's trailer taken just a few years later show a fully equipped studio covered in flash and decorated with artwork and artifacts from the trade, including a set of old photographs of local tattooed grocer and friend William "Bill" Gavin, whose body suit was executed by Allentown tattoo artist Henry Biehler during the 1930s and 1940s.

Over the years, Miller accumulated a diverse group of tattoo material that extended far beyond his own career, including flash, photographs, and ephemera dating from the 1910s through the mid-1970s. Early commercial designs by Percy Waters and J. F. Barber survived alongside mid-century supply catalogs from Milton Zeiss and a souvenir pitchbook from Jack Dracula, bringing together material from several generations. Miller appears to have stopped tattooing in the early 1970s to focus on M&M Amusements, a traveling carnival company that for more than forty years supplied rides and games to fairs and carnivals throughout eastern Pennsylvania.


Percy Waters

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: Each: 13 1/2 x 10 in. (34.3 x 25.4 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.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Bray & Co. does not offer in-house shipping. Shipping and all associated costs are the responsibility of the buyer. A list of preferred shippers and carriers is available upon request. Bray & Co. shall have no liability for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of property by a third party. If you have questions about shipping, please contact us at [email protected] or (603) 427-8281.

Items can be picked up in person by appointment only at our gallery at 33 Jewell Court in Portsmouth, NH. Please contact us at least 24 hours in advance of pickup. *All first-time buyers that wish to pick items up in person must pay with cash.

Bray & Co. Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 28% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

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