This will be some insight as to what is exactly inside of this book since there is no description here on this page.
This hardcover book is indeed the exact same book as the softcover "Vintage Tattoos: The Book of Old-School Skin Art by Carol Clerk" but the sub-title for this First Edition hardcover is "a sourcebook for old-school designs and tattoo artists"
Both books read the same page per page BUT the ink used on the paperback is different than that of the hardcover. It seems that darker pigments were used in the softcover which causes darkening of some images which used heavy shading to begin with. This has caused some images to lose only the slightest of details.
All red areas on the cover and spine are foiled so that this book shines very nicely depending on how you look at it.
This hardcover book is still readily available, at an affordable price, for those that SEEK it out.
Differences are minimal. Good read either way.