Lot 42

Sailor Girl and Hula Girl Pin-Ups by Bert Grimm [Folk Art - Outsider] (St. Louis, ca. 1940) 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm.)

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Sailor Girl and Hula Girl Pin-Ups by Bert Grimm [Folk Art - Outsider] (St. Louis, ca. 1940) 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm.)

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

Starting Bid: $1,000

(0 Bids)

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

Sailor Girl and Hula Girl Pin-Ups by Bert Grimm [Folk Art - Outsider]
(St. Louis, ca. 1940)
Hand-painted tattoo flash by Bert Grimm (1900-1985), St. Louis, Missouri, ca. 1940. Verso with collection stamp for Mike and Mary Skiver's Personal Ink Tattoo Museum. Ink and watercolor on illustration paper.

Few artists cast a longer shadow over American tattooing than Bert Grimm
(1900-1985), a larger-than-life character whose career spanned seven decades.
At fifteen, Grimm reportedly ran away with the circus before landing in Portland,
Oregon, where he hung around the shops of veteran tattooers Charlie Western and
"Sailor" Gus Franso. He soon set out on the road, tattooing in Chicago, Los Angeles,
and elsewhere. Working alongside many of the era's leading tattooers, he built a
reputation as one of the trade's most colorful and talented young artists.

In 1928, Grimm returned home to St. Louis and opened his famed studio at the corner
of Broadway and Market. There he tattooed thousands of sailors, servicemen,
laborers, and the occasional outlaw; in later years, he claimed the notorious Pretty
Boy Floyd among his clientele. Following World War II, Grimm relocated to The Pike
amusement district in Long Beach, California, where he established one of the most
celebrated tattoo shops in the United States, still in operation today. The shop
became a training ground for a new generation of tattooers, including Bob Shaw
and Lyle Tuttle. Renowned for his bold linework, vivid color, and iconic designs,
Grimm helped define the visual language of twentieth-century American tattooing.

  • Dimensions: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 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