DACS

tijuanabibles Inventory of the Tijuana Bibles Collection, 1930-1998 Processed by: Meghan Lyon; machine-readable finding aid created by: Meghan Lyon David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 004344748

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: July 2010Processed by Meghan Lyon, July 2010; finding aid encoded by Meghan Lyon, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, July 2010 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the Tijuana Bibles Collection, 1930s-1998 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Tijuana Bibles Collection, 1930s-1998 Material in English 2.5 Linear Feet 300 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Tijuana Bibles, also known as eight-pagers or dirty little books, were small eight-page publications of cartoon erotica that became popular during the 1930s and 1940s. This collection includes about 250 Tijuana bibles, some of them duplicates; a few folders of erotica drawings and drafts by an unknown artist; and printed material about Tijuana bibles, published from the 1970s through the 1990s. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Tijuana Bibles Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University

Provenance

The Tijuana Bibles Collection were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase from Rulon-Miller Books in July 2010 and September 2012. Updated January 2013 with small additions.

Processing Information

Processed by Meghan Lyon, July 2010

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, July 2010; updated September 2012 and January 2013

Accessions 2010-0146, 2012-0175, 2012-0245 are described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Historical Note

Tijuana bibles are small, cheaply-made, pornographic publications. Also known as dirty little books or eight-pagers, Tijuana bibles emerged in the 1930s and remained popular through the 1940s, finally disappearing in the post-World War II period. Being underground erotic publications, there were no designated publishers or organizations creating the books; despite that, each adheres to a fairly consistent format. They average about 3x5 inches in size, and are eight pages in length, bound between covers by a staple. Images are cheaply printed on poor-quality paper by mimeograph, usually in black and white, occasionally incorporating the color red. The book's cover also serves as a title page, introducing the main character and sometimes an author's pen name (which is usually a sexual double entendre). Nearly every bible is undated and by an anonymous author.

Tijuana bible artists tended to draw their characters from mainstream newspaper comics, such as Popeye or Little Orphan Annie; politicians or celebrities from the day, such as Greta Garbo or Mae West; or American folklore or culture, such as a travelling salesman or an unemployed secretary. Although the books are extremely graphic in nature, there is also a consistent presence of humor, with the last page typically serving as a punch line.

Collection Overview

The Tijuana Bibles Collection consists of about 250 Tijuana bibles, some printed material about the bibles and the phenomenon as a whole, and an anonymous author's sketches and drawings of characters and plots.

The Tijuana bibles include a wide range of characters, many inspired by (or lifted from) mainstream media and celebrities. The most frequently used characters were from newspaper comic strips, including Andy Gump, Betty Boop, Blondie and Dagwood, Dick Tracy, Ella Cinders, Dumb Dora, Wimpy, Pete the Tramp, Tillie the Toiler, and Popeye. Other bibles include generic figures such as travelling salesmen (including a vacuum cleaner man, a book salesman, a radio salesmen, and so on); parodies of real people, including Nazis, boxer Joe Louis, and other celebrities; or versions of popular movie heroines, such as Snow White or Mae West.

The manuscript materials accompanying the bibles consist of drafts and sketches for two strips, one featuring Wahoo and the other featuring Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae. Also included is a draft of Fritzi Ritz in 'Kisses for Sale'. This series also includes pornographic drawings of generic female characters, some with and some without text. These do not appear to be taken from any particular Tijuana bible. All of the manuscript material is anonymous and undated.

Finally, the collection also includes a series of books about Tijuana bibles, compiled by the collector, including reprints of some of the bibles as well as essays or historical introductions to the genre. These books were published between 1971 and 1998.

Collection Arrangement

The Tijuana bibles have been arranged in alphabetical order by title. Please do a Control-Find search if you are looking for all Tijuana bibles featuring a certain character. Author pen names have been included when given on the book.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Erotic comic books, strips, etc.--United States. Underground comic books, strips, etc.--United States. Tijuana bibles. Contents of Collection Tijuana bibles (2 boxes) 1The Adventures of a Fuller Brush Man: The Arorour Mrs. Twirp 1The Adventures of a Fuller Brush Man: Easy Pickins 1The Adventures of a Fuller Brush Man: Hot Pants 1The Adventures of a Fuller Brush Man: Obliging Lady 1Alexander Smart Esq. in Tit for Tat (2 copies) 1Alley Oop in The Rescue 1Andy Grump (2 copies) 1Presenting Andy Grump in Dreaming, by Fuller P. Slopjar 1The Auto Salesman (2 copies) 1Artists and Models 1Bad Bill Snatches a Piece of Plunder 1Balls Lost in the Rough 1The Great Big Man from the South, starring Barney Google 1Barney Google in Horse Flesh, by V. Fuzzynuts 1Benny Snooks in the Hay Loft 8 1Benny and his Bantam (2 copies) 1Benny Does it Without Words! 1Betty Boop in Betty Steps Out, by Regina Doosh 1Betty Boop in Hot Pants 1Blondie, by U. Groan and I. Grunt (3 copies) 1Blondie in Lonely, by Berna Pantz 1Bonnie Parker in Amputated (2 copies) 1Boob McNutt 1Boob McNutt in The Demonstrator (2 copies) 1The Book Salesman (3 copies) 1Boots 1Boots in Love's Labor Lost, by Upyer Brown 1Boots in Saved, by Iva Biggun 1Boots in Someone to Love! 1Boy What a Dream! 1Brenda Breeze 1Bunky in The Nursemaid (3 copies) 1Claudette Coal-Bin in Bigger Yet (2 copies) 1Count Screwloose in Decoyed 1Dagwood in The Decoy 1Dagwood in The Facts of Life, by Luke Atmine 1Dagwood in Two Sales, by Loos E. Nutz 1Dan Dunn Secret Operative 48 1Dan Dunn, by Ophelia Pratt 1Dan Dunn: Crowded with Sex and Action! 1Dan in Uts-Nay 1Dick Tracy in The Evidence 1Dick Tracy in Missing, by Cedrick Bowelrust 1Dick Tracy in Official Business 1Dick Tracy in The Smuggler 1Ding Dang Doo 1Dinglehoofer und his dog Adolph 1Dixie Dugan 1Dixie Dugan in Imitation of Life 1Dixie Dugan in Old Reliable, by Albee Shitte 1Dixie Dugan in Very Potent VI,by Torrie Tessie 1Doc Gets All Tangled Up!! 1Dora 1Dumb Dora 1Dumb Dora, by Kant Takit (2 copies) 1Dumb Dora V (2 copies) 1Dumb Dora, by Upum Fuckum (3 copies) 1Ella Cinders, by Letta Laye 1Ella Cinders 1Ella Cinders in The Holdup 1Ella Cinders in Running Wild 1Ella Cinders in Such a Grief, by Iva Snatch (3 copies) 1Ella Cinders and Jiggs in The Dupe, by Stif-Stuf Studios 1Elmer the Clodhopper (2 copies) 1Etta Kett in Endorsed, by Rub Matocas 1Eugene the Jeep in Precaution 1The Farmer's Daughter (3 copies) 1Foozy in The Decoy 1Fireman Save my Gal 1Flash Gordon in Red-Hot (2 copies) 1Freckles and his Friends (2 copies) 1Freckles and his Girl 1The Frigidaire Salesman (2 copies) 1Fritzi Ritz in Insult 1Fritzi Ritz in Straight from the Shoulder 1The Fuller Brush Man 1Gasoline Alley or Uncle Walt 1Geezil in Gimme Beck, by Vera Hott 1Mr. Geezil the Shoe Cobbler 1Geo. Bungle, by E. Nawder Titzoff 1George and Harry in Doing Things 1Georgie and Wifie in All of a Sudden, by Tobasco Pub. Co. 1Good Clean Fun Sizzling with Wit and Humor 1Gordo 1Greta Gabo 1The Grumps Oh Min! 1Grumpy and Snow White in A Changed Man 1Gypsy Rose Lee at the Author's Club 1Hairbreadth Harry in The Rescue (3 copies) 1The Hall-Room Boys at the Masked Ball 1Hans and Fritz Der Teacher 1Happy Hooligan 1Harold Teen, by Peter Dout 1Harold Teen (2 copies) 1Harold Teen in Sugar Bowl, by U.R.A. Muffdriver 1He Didn't Speak French 1He Was Scared Stiff and She Was Happy 1He Wouldn't Open It 1Henry in The Only Way 1Ho Hill-Billy 1How to Keep from Growing Old 1The Insurance Salesman (2 copies) 1It Was Perfect 1Jack Bimpsey 1Jean Harlot in A Poor Fit 1Jeem Londos in The Groan and Grunt Idol 1Jiggs 1Jiggs, by Ophelia T. Wart 1Jiggs in At the Fair, by Puss Trubble 1Jiggs in Phew 1Jiggs in Wotta Dream 1Joan Dumbell in Looking Ahead 1Joe Jinks 1Joe Jinks in I Can Try 1Joe Louis The Pride of Harlem 1Joe Penner Wants to Buy a Fuck 1Joe Palooka in The Champ 1Joe Palooka with Knobby, by Stoop N. Takit (2 copies) 1John L. Sullivan The Boston Strong Boy 1Judge Puffle in Paid 1Jungle Jim in Lil Goes Straight (3 copies) 1J. Wellington Wimpy in Back to His First Love (2 copies) 1J. Wellington Wimpy in Beg Pardon 1J. Wellington Wimpy You Bring the Ducks, by Corn Hole Productions 22Kaintuck Hellbellies: A Saga of the Hills, by Pratfeel and M.F. Coys 2Kansas Citty Kitty (4 copies) 2Radio's Kate Smitz 2The Katzenjammers in Shipwrecked, by Diddle Daley 2The Kid Sister, by Upyer Brown 2Killer Burke in Out! 2Kiss Me Again 2Knock Before You Come In 2Legs Diamond in Strip Poker 2Lene Tooney the Smart Boy 2Les Extases 2Lil Abner, by Lucy Dooplewot 2Little Annie Rooney (2 copies) 2The Little Ol' Breadwinner, by Ima Cunteater 2The Lonely Widow 2Louie, by Jockoffski 2Luke McGlook in The Smart Boy 2Mae Breast in A Last Resort (2 copies) 3Mae West

32 pp. version of a Tijuana bible, 8vo.

2Maggie (2 copies) 2Maggie in the 19th hole 2Major Hoople, by Alex Dragon 2Major Hoople in The Birth of a Nation, by Otto Satcheless 2Major Hoople in What Would You Do?, by Oliver Crappe 2Max Beer in The Lady's Man 2Max Smellin 2Mickey Finn in First Aid (2 copies) 2Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck (2 copies) 2Mister Breger in Fucked Again 2Mister Bull in The Big Shot 2Molly Had It! 2Moon Mullins in Help!, by Peter B. Everhard(2 copies) 2Moon Mullins in Nerts 2Moon Mullins in Treat 'em with Kindness 2The Mullins Family in Resale Value 2The Nebbs 2The Nebbs in The Dreamer 2Ophelia Pratte presents Simp O'Dill in Idle Moments 2Patsy Kelly Gets Shot in the Ass with Romance 2Patsy Kelly in She Got Her Man 2The Tramp Pete in Help!(2 copies) 2Pete in No Help Needed 2Pete in No Pay 2Pete The Tramp (5 copies) 2Phil Fumble 2Phil Fumble in He Done Her Wrong 2Polly in It's Really an Art 2Pop Eye, by Sheza Floppe 2Pop Eye, by Weeken Willin 2Pop Eye in The Art of Love (2 copies) 2Pop Eye the Sailor Man!, by Coxswain Pissincreek 2Pop Eye the Sailor in Snatch Snatcher 2Pop Eye in To the Rescue 2Position is Everything in Life with Lew Lehr (2 copies) 2Primo Canary in Push 'Em Up 2Radio Salesman (3 copies) 2The Real Silk Hosiery Salesman, by Whattawat and Co. (2 copies) 2Relentless Rudolph in High Finance 2Remember Way Back When (3 copies) 2Rosie's Beau, by E.T. Inth'Loop (3 copies) 2The Rubber Salesman (3 copies) 2Ruth Edding in Thrifty Baby 2Sadie and the Milkman (4 copies) 2Salesman Sam in the Big Game Hunter 2Sappo with Prof. O.G. Whattaschnozzle 2Sappo in Haunted (2 copies) 2Sappo with Prof O.G. Whattaschnozzle, by Lipsmit Bros. 2Schnozzles 2A Scotchman's Hole in One 2She was Dumb like a Fox 2Sheer Nonsense 2She Will be Coming around the Mountain (2 copies) 2Skeezix, by Whattaprick Inc. 2Skippy in Hot and Hairy 2Sleepy and Sneezy Go to Town 2Smokey (2 copies) 2Snow White Makes Bashful Grow Bold!! And He Loves It! 2Snuffy, by Iva Wopper 2Stella Clinker in Too Weak 2A Strain on the Family Life, by G. Howitt Hoyts 2Strange as it Seems 2Streaky(3 copies) 2Sylvia Kidney in False Rumors 2The Taxi Driver (3 copies) 2That Son-in-Law of Pa's 2That's My Pop (2 copies) 2That's My Pop, by Fanny Warmer (2 copies) 2Tillie in The Artist 2Tillie in Easy Picking (2 copies) 2Tillie and Mac 2Tillie and Mack with Maggie 2Tillie and Mack with Mr. Simpkins and Bubbles (3 copies) 2Nerts to You with Tillie and Mack, by Otto Whataprick 2Tillie the Toiler in Ooooh-Hmm-Daddy 2Tillie the Toiler in Ruined 2Toots and Casper (2 copies) 2Toots and Jiggs and other cartoon jokes 2Uncle Bim and Mille, by Bagg O. Nutts 2Uncle Willie and Moon in Masquerade (2 copies) 2Untitled(2 versions) 2Upom U. Freud in Orifice Call, by Will U. Rimmum 2The Vacuum Cleaner Man 2Wally and the King 2Wally and the Pageboy 2Wally and the Sultan 2Wally in the Bath 2The Webbs 6 2The Webbs VIII 2Wimpy in Deformed, by Lydia Liverpad (3 copies) 2Wimpy in Only Love Baby, by A Jerkoff Production 2Wimpy in The Temptress, by Long Dong 2Winnie Winkle in The Stenog 2Winnie Winkle in The Stenog 2WMP. Mullins Kayo and Mamie in Juicy Stuff, by Zitch Bros (2 copies) 2Woozy Winks Ablely Assisted by Plasticman 2Yes, We Have No Bananas (2 copies) 2Dirty Joke Books Favorite Party Jokes Good Clean Fun Sizzling with Wit and Humor Laughs de Luxe Les Extases Reel Fun Smiles to Cure the Blues Manuscript Materials (5 folders) 3Sketches (3 folders) 3Sketches of Minnie Ha-Cha, Kitty Cornpone, and Wahoo 3Sketches of Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae 3Fritzi Ritz in Kisses for Sale drafts Books about Tijuana bibles, 1971-1998 (1 box) 3Dirty Little Sex Cartoons. Argyle Books: Los Angeles, Calif. 1972. 3Douglas, John. Hot Little Comics: Volume One. Monogram Publications, Inc. 1972. 3Douglas, John. Hot Little Comics: Volume Two. Monogram Publications, Inc. 1972. 3Dowers, Michael, ed. The Tijuana Bibles: America's Forgotten Comic Strips, Volume I. Eros Comix: Seattle, Washington. 1998. 3Dowers, Michael, ed. The Tijuana Bibles: America's Forgotten Comic Strips, Volume II. Eros Comix: Seattle, Washington. 1998. 3Dowers, Michael, ed. The Tijuana Bibles: America's Forgotten Comic Strips, Volume III. Eros Comix: Seattle, Washington. 1998. 3Gilmore, Donald H. Sex in Comics: A History of the Eight Pagers, Volume 4. Greenleaf Classic, Inc.: San Diego, Calif. 1971. 3Little "Dirty" Comics. Socio Library: Resada Calif. 1976. 3More Dirty Little Sex Cartoons. PHE Inc. 1983. 3More Little "Dirty" Comics: Volume Two. Socio Library: Resada, Calif. 1971. 3Murky R. and J. B. Randy. The Tia Juana Bible Revival, Volume One: "Hot Nuts." Penetrating Pubs., Inc.: Blue Balls, Penn. 1977. 3Murky R. and J. B. Randy. The Tia Juana Bible Revival, Volume Two: "Under the Stars in Hollywood." Paramounds Prod.: Hooker, Calif. 1977. 3Raymond, Otis. An Illustrated History of Sex Comic Classics, Volume I. Comic Classics: New York, NY. 1972. 3Raymond, Otis. An Illustrated History of Sex Comic Classics, Volume II. Comic Classics: New York, NY. 1972. 3Reynolds, John J. Famous Sex Comics. Socio Library: Resada, Calif. 1976.