I would like to find a source to download 1-4, 8.5x11", 300 dpi color
images of flat leather skin and would like to pay under $20 peer
image, They are to be used for backgrounds in short run bruchures
advertising my artwork .

Hi there.  I did a bit of searching and came across the standard
assortment of stock photography sites, all of which charge upwards of
$50 for high-res images of the size you need.

I did, however, find the following site:

     http://www.stormvision.net/

They provide a myriad of textures, each available in two sizes (low
and high resolutions).  I ran a search on their site for "leather" and
the engine showed me a number of textures, six or seven of which
should be useful for you.  Strangely, there is no standard size for
their textures, and so some of them don't quite reach 8.5x11 @ 300
DPI.  However, there are several that meet that requirement,
including:

Black Leather (3500x2993 = roughly 10"x11.5")
http://www.stormvision.net/index.cfm/act/articles/art_ID/1039/search/simple/argument/leather

Green Leather (2946x3500 = roughly 11.5"x10")
http://www.stormvision.net/index.cfm/act/articles/art_ID/1011/search/simple/argument/leather

Darkbrown Tileable Leather (1364x1364, but repeatable to get your size)
http://www.stormvision.net/index.cfm/act/articles/art_ID/635/search/simple/argument/leather

Perforated Leather 2 (3500x3423 = roughly 11.5"x11.5")
http://www.stormvision.net/index.cfm/act/articles/art_ID/1041/search/simple/argument/leather

Each of these costs 7 EUR (so, about $8.50 apiece).

Please let me know if I can be of more assistance.

--Joey

searching strategy:

     'leather textures resolution'

Super site,
I really appreciate it, Thanks Jim

Hi jamesk92000,
  
Here are some, but they're not hi-res
http://www.imageafter.com/category.php?category=leather_skin
  
jackburton-ga

FotoSearch probably have what you are after, but their prices tend to
be higher than $20
http://www.fotosearch.com/