RAY, Miss Cindy. The Story of a Tattooed Girl.

(Victoria, Australia): Cindy Ray, no date (c.1966).  First edition. Octavo.  109 pages plus 65 pages of images.  The autobiography of Australia’s first homegrown tattooed (and tattooist) pin-up girl.  Until 1959 Cindy Ray was plain Bev Nichols, Cindy Ray was the creation of eccentric Melbourne photographer Harry Bartram, who convinced her to get tattooed with the promise of fame and fortune.  She started to tattoo shortly after  when her tattoo artist boyfriend broke his hand in a pub brawl.  She worked out of a shop on the waterfront in Williamstown, outside of Melbourne, where in the 1960s and ’70s there was an endless supply of sailors to tattoo.  The volume details Ray’s entry into the world of tattooing and her career as a ‘tattooed lady’  the volume also includes an interesting account of tattooing in Japan.  The 65 pages of photographic illustrations complimenting both sections of the book.  A very good copy in spiral bound wrappers.  Previous owner’s name stamp and address label to front cover, additional stamp on inside cover.  A nice copy of this important work offering a female perspective into what was a predominately male dominated industry.