PARIS / HAMBURG / PARIS Three Books 1950s~1960

PARIS / HAMBURG / PARIS Three Books 1950s~1960

Albert Muller published at least two books in their Ein Bummel durch die Nachtlokade city series: Paris and Hamburg; specifically Paris Oh! La! La! (1958 photos by Daniel Frasnay) and St.Pauli und die Reeperbahn (1960). Easily overlooked pocketbook size books, however both include beautiful photographs printed in very fine, dark toned gravure. The books capture the "nightlife" of both cities: Pigalle, Place Blanche and St.Germain des Pres and the notorious Reeperbahn district in Hamburg known for its adult sex shops, nightclubs, strip joints, tattoo parlors and the "closed" street for  prostitution, Herbertstrasse.  More about the Reeperbahn (literally "rope walk") click here.

The third book The Women of Paris shown below in a hardcover edition published by the Bodley Head in London, 1954, has a few things in common with the two Albert Muller books. It is obviously about Paris, it is beautifully printed in gravure (photographs by Nico Jesse) and it was eventually published in Holland (same title by A.W. Bruna & Zoon, 1958) as a pocketbook, similar in quality to the two books above. 

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TATTOO Photographs 1950s ~ 1960s Hoffman + Delarue

Here are some images from two of the most important historical archives related to post WWII tattooing. The first group is from the collection of Herbert Hoffman who was not only a photographer but also one of the world's renowned tattoo artists. Hoffman worked tirelessly out of his shop in St.Pauli, along the Reeperbahn in Hamburg, until his death in 2010 at age 90. His accomplishments as a tattooist alone would have elevated him to the highest pedestal in that world, however Hoffman was also an indefatigable photographer inviting tattooed people to pose for his camera. The first group of seven photographs were made by Hoffman, circa late 1950s to mid-1960s. 

The next group is from the collection of Jacques Delarue (aka de la Rue) a writer and historian with a particular interest in folklore, the underworld, slang and tattooing. Along with Robert Giraud he wrote and edited Les Tatouages du Milieu (sought after cult classic, Paris 1950) a collection of tattooed men (and a few women) from the French underworld, primarily criminals and convicts. Along the way, while researching the book, Delarue contacted tattoo artist the world over requesting photographs for his growing collection. Here are a handful of images, the results of those efforts. Photographers unknown.

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PARIS HAMBURG PARIS Three Books 1950s~1960

Albert Muller published at least two books in their Ein Bummel durch die Nachtlokade city series: Paris and Hamburg; specifically Paris Oh! La! La! (1958 photos by Daniel Frasnay) and St.Pauli und die Reeperbahn (1960). Easily overlooked pocketbook size books, however both include beautiful photographs printed in very fine, dark toned gravure. The books capture the "nightlife" of both cities: Pigalle, Place Blanche and St.Germain des Pres and the notorious Reeperbahn district in Hamburg known for its adult sex shops, nightclubs, strip joints, tattoo parlors and the "closed" street of prostitution, Herbertstrasse.  More about the Reeperbahn (literally "rope walk") click here.

The third book Women of Paris shown below in a hardcover edition published by the Bodley Head in London, 1954 has a few things in common with the two Albert Muller books. It is obviously about Paris, it is beautifully printed in gravure (photographs by Nico Jesse) and it was eventually published in Holland (same title by A.W. Bruna & Zoon, 1958) as a pocketbook, similar in quality to the two books above. Click here to see the Bodley Head version of the book in my eBay store. 

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