1922. 8vo, pp. 88; with frontispiece and 39 numbered photographs and illustrations on 16 plates (though in fact 44 figures as notes on title-page); paper a little browned due to quality, and with some occasional light foxing and soiling; with ex-libris label on front free endpaper; uncut in the original printed grey stiff wrappers, with publisher’s advertisements inside on both front and rear cover, head and tail of spine lightly bumped and worn, covers a little foxed with further light wear to extremities; a very good copy. First edition of this detailed scientific monograph on tattooing by the Swiss physician Dr Paul Cattani, written from a multi-disciplinary standpoint and touching upon psychology, ethnology, medicine, biology, histology, therapeutics and cosmetics motivations. According to the preface, the work grew out of Cattani’s own medical experiences having at times been tasked with the removal of tattoos, and his publication of a previous article in a Swiss medical journal on the judicial-medical significance of tattooing. This prompted him to expand his research to include analysis of tattoos from a psychological and ethnological viewpoint. He hopes his work will be of interest to both physicians and ethnographers, giving the former an insight into the motivations and customs behind skin markings, and the latter an insight into the medical implications of the art, such as the transmission of syphilis through tattooing.
Cattani thanks two Swiss colleagues for giving him access to their ethnological papers, and also notes that many of the illustrations included in the work have been drawn from existing printed publications. A full list is given at the end, which forms a useful and extensive bibliography.