Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Tijuana Bibles collection, C0387, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Purchased by Lynn Eaton in 2019.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in February 2022. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in February 2022.

Historical Information

Tijuana Bibles - also known as "eight-pagers" - were underground, pornographic comic books that were created from the 1920s through the 1960s, though they were most popular during the Great Depression. Usually palm-sized, the comics often featured popular fictional cartoon characters (of the era in which they were created) in explicitly sexual situations. Sometimes the comics featured famous actors or public figures. Due to the illicit and illegal nature of the comics, the authors of Tijuana Bibles are unknown. The name "Tijuana Bible" came from the incorrect assumption that the comics came from Mexico, Tijuana being a Mexican city on the Mexico/U.S. border.

Scope and Content

Content warning: Graphic sexual content and pornography.

A group of thirteen Tijuana Bibles, some featuring popular cartoon characters, such as Popeye the Sailor Man and his girlfriend Olive Oyl. They also feature public figures such as Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, actress Greta Garbo, as well as original characters. The comics are sexually graphic and pornographic in nature, with crude titles. These Tijuana Bibles were likely created during the 1930s, at the height of the comics' popularity.

Arrangement

This is a single folder collection.

Related Material

The Archives and Manuscripts at Duke University Libraries holds the Tijuana Bibles collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Pornography
• Tijuana bibles