Tattoos have been around since ancient times, but it was not until the mid-1800s when they became popular in the United States. The first tattoo parlor in the US opened in New York City in 1846, and it was followed by a few more in the ensuing years. With the rising popularity of tattoos, it was only natural for artists to start creating designs for other people to use in their tattoos. This is where the idea of tattoo flash books came into play, and it has been an important part of American traditional tattoo culture ever since.