Tattoo art meets rare books at Winterthur Library’s Spring Open House

Doc. 119 and Doc. 22, two rare examples of tattoo design books held in the Winterthur Library special collections. (Photo Courtesy of Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library)

WINTERTHUR—On Saturday, April 12, the Winterthur Library invites visitors to explore the intersection of history, art, and personal expression at its “Art Book Open House: Tattooable Edition.” 

This special event, held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., offers a rare chance to explore tattoo-inspired designs from the library’s world-renowned collection.

The event’s centerpiece is a pair of 19th-century tattoo flash books, created to showcase designs ready to be inked on sailors and adventurous spirits of the era. These early examples of American traditional tattoo art sit alongside other tattoo-worthy visuals from the library’s archives, including botanical illustrations, calligraphy guides, and more.

“I’m always thrilled to be able to showcase the Winterthur Library’s incredibly visual collection through public events like this, but the tattoo open house is a subject close to my heart: most of my tattoos come from rare books and manuscripts!” said Allie Alvis, Curator of Special Collections at Winterthur Library.

“From our pair of 19th-century tattoo flash books to 18th-century botanical illustrations, to calligraphy guides and more, dozens of examples of tattoo-ready designs from our special collections will be available to page through, take pictures of, and sketch. I hope that putting the Library out there as a resource for all sorts of research and inspiration—artistic, academic, and beyond—will encourage people to think about collections in creative ways.”

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This event is part of a quarterly Art Book Open House series, which focuses on artistically inspiring materials. Past themes have included Art Nouveau and botanical illustration. The next edition, scheduled for June 4 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., will explore textiles. For those seeking a deeper dive, Winterthur’s Off the Shelf series offers more guided experiences led by library staff and experts, with rare items available for browsing after the talks. All programs are free and open to the public, welcoming visitors regardless of their experience with special collections.

Plan Your Visit: Daffodil Day & More

April 12 is also Winterthur Garden’s annual Daffodil Day celebration. Admission to the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library that day includes access to the gardens, Daffodil Day festivities, museum galleries, an introductory house tour, and the Tattooable Edition open house.

Daffodil Day celebrates the stunning spring display of more than 500,000 blooming daffodils, a beloved feature of Winterthur’s gardens cultivated by founder Henry Francis du Pont. Guests can enjoy guided daffodil tours at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. from the Visitor Center Patio, as well as family-friendly activities, floral displays, and space-themed crafts.

While there is no charge to drop in to the library open house, general admission is required for entry to the gardens, museum, and other Daffodil Day events. Winterthur members receive free admission.

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.