You might think tattoos are a 20th century thing, at least in the west. It isn’t! In 1862 the Prince of Wales, later to become king Edward VII (he was the son of queen Victoria!) received his first tattoo, a Jerusalem cross made by Francois Souwan, while he visited Jerusalem. He was then around 18 or 20 years old, and send to the East by Victoria, who seemed to have not been particularly fond of her dandy son.
While most British ports had had professional tattoo artists in residence since the 18th century, Edwards tattoo started a fad among aristocracy. In 1882, Edward’s sons, the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of York (George V,) were tattood by the Japanese tattooist Hoti Chiyo, George V received a tattoo of a dragon on his arm. Later on the prince received more tattoos, by Tom Riley and Sutherland Macdonals.
Prince George (Edward’s son) wrote in a letter “we have been tattooed by the same old man who tattooed papa, and the same thing too, five crosses. You ask Papa to show you his arm.” (This contradicts the BBC source at the end of this article.)
All the 19th century dictionaries and encyclopaedias suggest that among Europeans tattooing was confined to seamen, and sometimes soldiers. The first permanent tattoo shop in new york city was set up in 1846 and began a tradition by tattooing military servicemen from both sides of the civil war. Samuel o’Reilly invented the electric tattooing machine in 1891.
In 1861 French naval surgeon Maurice Berchon published a study on the medical complications of tattooing and after this, the navy and army banned tattooing within their ranks.
Another 19th century thing is people who claim to have been unwillingly tattood, for example John Rutherford who arrived on the exhibition scene in 1827 with a full Maori Moko tattoo on his face. He made quite a profit from telling how he was captured and tattood by force.
Sadly, none of the British princes seems to have been keen on showing off their tats in public. The only pictures of 19th century tattoos I could find are these, but please click at risk, as these have been removed from the rest of the body:
It made me a little queasy.
Disclaimer: the issue of tattoos, being something of the body, is not very well documented in contemporary sources. All info in this post was found on the net, I only included what seemed to make sense but keep in mind there are no ‘official’ sources!
I found this on the BBC website, which I consider a fairly academic source:
During the 19th Century leading figures in society criticised the practice, associating it with the rough life of sailors, port towns and prostitutes.
However in 1882 King George V was given a large dragon tattoo on his arm on a visit to Japan.
In 1900, it was estimated that 90% of all sailors in the US Navy were tattooed, while the Second World War saw a surge in patriotic tattoos among servicemen
Edit: Commenter Elisabeth linked me to a forum where some excellent research was done on Victorian tattoos, and a picture was found showing Nicolas II with a tattoo, from the 1890s. You can read all about it, here.
I am trying to locate a copy of the tatoo that my Father had in about the year 1940-s. It was of an angel flying away and had under it the writing” Come with me little darling”. He has been passed away for over 30 years and I would love to see it again. It was in Black and White. He lived in Arkansas at the time. Thank you.
Hi Sharon, did you try looking up old tattoo stock books? Often there were standard images in which you could customise the text. Books like this are often in the fashion-section of larger libraries. I’m sorry I can’t help you further, I hope another reader might have suggestions. Good luck!
Nicolas II- like many of his cousins- had a tatoo when he travelled to Japan in 1891.
Here is a thread about this here: http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=1261.0
(you can see the picture in the last pages)…
Elisabeth: Thank you, that’s a great link! I’m surprised the tattoo is so visible, and looks so modern. The forum has done some great research.
[…] led by two English princes, including George, who later became King George V. Read about it in the Victorian Era. Tattoos hold different meanings in different societies. In some, tattoos are signs of status or […]
Very interesting post, i read it and bookmarked your blog, i will visit your website often
best regards
Contrary to the widely held notion that most drugs – vis-à-vis Viagra pills – sold on the internet, there are a host of reputable online pharmacies, if only one would take time to ensure that the online pharmacy he is visiting is credible.
Been doing research for websites for such info , with thanks
Hi, I found your article very interesting thank you. I have recently discovered through 1891 census that my great grandfather was an art engraver/tattooist and have been trying to find out how this profession was perceived in the Victorian era. His father was an East India merchant and his mothers family worked at the stock exchange so I think he may have disappointed them somewhat but I may be totally wrong. I think it’s great though.
It’s reality that West culture accept tattoos in its early days. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about old tattoos.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria (aka Sisi) had a tattoo as well. If im correct an anchor on one of her shoulders.
It’s an amazing paragraph designed for all the web visitors; they will obtain benefit from it I am sure.
Many romantic movies have been made since the industry began in the 1920s.
These are romantic movies that will make you laughFour ChristmasesFour Christmases
2008 is downright hilarious with cracking performances by
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. An Affair to Remember,”” Romeo and Juliet,””
West Side Story 196129.
[…] can, of course, be symbols of privilege. Edward VII sported tattoos, and was rumoured to mark his established mistresses with a snake around a wrist. Among my own age […]
Treatment for depression with panic attacks is readily available.
It is very important to control your thoughts, because your strength, determination and ability to win
over anxiety can only let you overcome it. Hypnosis is not mind control
when you are in a hypnotic trance.
Even i also think that tattoo is a 20th century but i don’t know that edward put first tattoo and it was a Jerusalem cross.good history of the tattoo.
I’ve been surfing online greater than three hours lately, yet I never discovered any fascinating article
like yours. It is lovely value enough for me. In my view,
if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content
material as you probably did, the internet can be a lot more useful than ever
before.
[…] https://19thcentury.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/19th-century-tattoos/ […]
`
Hi there. I don’t know if you’ll get this message, as I’m commenting on a post that’s 7 years old, but I am doing some research for a story I’m writing, and I really need to know how tattoos were created in 19th century Britain – I’m assuming the modern tattoo gun wasn’t yet invented, so how did they do it?
Hello mates, how is the whole thing, and what you would like to say
on the topic of this article, in my view its in fact remarkable designed for me.
I pay a quick visit everyday a few web pages and websites to read posts, but this website
offers feature based writing.
Hey!
My name is Roo Chare. I help tattoo parlors grow their Instagram account to build their digital presence.
I’m looking for some new people to work with and I saw your website – https://19thct.com/2007/11/11/19th-century-tattoos/
If growing your Instagram is something you may be interested in..let me know. Would love to chat.
Thanks,
Roo