22

(Grimsby, England, 1910 to 1960)

Tattoo Machine, Business Ledgers, Designs and More From Dusty Rhodes

Archive of tattoo material from the shop of tattoo artist Manley Raymond "Dusty" Rhodes (1890-1962), Grimsby, England, 1910-1960. Including an early tattoo machine attributed to Joseph Hartley, ca. 1915; Dusty Rhodes's "Tattoo Takings" business ledger with earnings from January 1946 to August 1958; small folder with approximately 55 tattoo stencils/transfers, 1910-1950; eight snapshot photos of Rhodes and his family, including views of his shop at 442 Victoria Street, 1930-1950; three framed line drawings of lady head tattoo designs; hand-drawn cartoon, "Tattooing the Old Way"; and a small group of miscellaneous paper items, including Rhodes's bank book, 1925-1929; a lightly used journal, 1952; and more. Line drawings are professionally framed with UV-protective glass.

Manley Raymond "Dusty" Rhodes began tattooing under the guidance of his older brother, Cecil Rhodes, around 1906. By the late 1920s he had established himself in the port town of Grimsby, working from 442 Victoria Street, where he continued through the early 1950s. During the Second World War, Cecil's Dover studio was destroyed by enemy shelling.

Provenance: Collection of Tom Christopher

Literature: featured in Terry Manton's The Pioneers of British Tattooing (2023), p. 228
Framed cartoon: 17 1/2 x 21 in. (44.5 x 53.3 cm.)

  • Condition: Overall good condition with wear appropriate for age and use.

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Items can be picked up in person by appointment only at our gallery at 33 Jewell Court in Portsmouth, NH. Please contact us at least 24 hours in advance of pickup. *All first-time buyers that wish to pick items up in person must pay with cash.

November 9, 2025 12:00 PM EST
Portsmouth, NH, US

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