These broadsides from Mexico were produced around the turn of the 20th century. "Ojas volantes," or "flying pages," as they are known, are considered a precursor to tabloid newspapers and contain a variety of sensational stories on current events of the day. Many contain gossip, opinions or moral messages around popular topics such as miracles and supernatural occurrences, scandals, politics, tragedies, and natural disasters. Published by the print shop of Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, all of these broadsides contain engravings by artist and lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913). His detailed and entertaining illustrations captivated the works' largely illiterate audience of the time.
A valuable portal into the lives of those living in Mexico City in the early 1900s, these broadsides provide insight into the spirit, humor, interests, fears, superstitions, hopes and joys of the masses during a period of upheaval. They reveal religious and cultural devotion to Mary as well, particularly under the titles of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos.
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iEI fin del mundo se aproxima!
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Begins with prophecies of a certain Madre Matiana, who predicted dire calamities, wars, pestilences, earthquakes, miseries, etc., for the beginning of the 20 th century. And lo, these things were coming to pass, in Mexico and abroad! Why? God's punishment for wild human passions and prevailing disbelief. The latest proof: the earthquake of November 19, 1912, now known as the Acambay Earthquake. (Acambay is a village about 100 km from Mexico City. 164 people perished in that quake.) The lower half of the verso contains a prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe to implore Her for the Public Peace.
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La Basilica de Guadalupe se esta hundiendo rapidamente
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Recto is headed by a story about the gradual subsidence of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe-it being built, like much of Mexico City, on the dried bed of Lake Texcoco. A new basilica was built in 1974; the old basilica (constructed between 1695 and 1709) has been repaired and is again open to the public. Another piece on recto speaks adoringly of Our Lady-this is a breath of love in a miasma of catastrophe. Top verso contains a recounting of various disasters of recent years, earthquakes around the country and cataclysms associated with Halley's Comet. Lower half of verso contains text, alongside a large engraving of a fly, describing the pestilence of flies brought on by 500,000 victims of war-men, women, children, noncombatants, bandits, and soldiers-whose bodies lie exposed. "Horrible mortality caused by the disastrous civil war that Yankee President Wilson protects." The article goes on to explain that while in the past flies were viewed as harmless it is now known that they can carry many diseases, and for this reason it is necessary to combat and exterminate them all, as they are malignant to humanity. Printed on pale green paper.
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Horrible suceso fraguado por el demonio y destruido por el admirable y portentoso milagro de Nuestra Sra. De Guadalupe, entre los esposos Maria Juliana Delgado y Pedro Garcia.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
A cautionary tale from the pueblo of Ocotlan de la Sierra that takes place "el ultimo de Septiembre def afio pr6ximo pasado" -the end of September of the next past year. This is especially helpful, as this hoja volante is undated. Marfa and Pedro are happily married for several weeks, but then Pedro begins to drink and gamble and stay out 'til all hours with his com padres. He becomes very abusive toward Marfa, as well, both verbally and physically . As his resources dwindle (At one point, Marfa even finds him gambling with the very clothes he is wearing!), Pedro makes a deal with a demon, exchanging Marfa for money with which to continue to live in sin for the next six years. When the term expires, Pedro takes Marfa to the demon ... Marfa falls to her knees and prays to the Virgin of Guadalupe to save her. Not only does the BVM save Marfa-she saves Pedro, too! The demon retires, with vile bellows of rage, promising to collect his debt later, but Pedro has seen the error of his ways and the transformed couple live happily ever after under the protection of and in devotion to Nuestra Senora. The verso also contains a poem summarizing the tale and praising La Reina Guadalupana. It is possible that this was a very popular or influential story of the time, as the engraving for this broadsheet was used for at least four other editions, and the same scene was depicted by at least one other distinct engraving.
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Nuestra Senora de san Juan de los Lagos que se venera en el estado de Jalisco
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Devotional print with text on verso describing miracles attributed to Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos.
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Profanacion de las reliquias de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Lucas takes a trip to Mexico City, leaving his wife Marfa behind at their home in Apulco, Zacatecas. While in the Federal District, Lucas visits the Virgin of Guadalupe at her sanctuary, where he receives relics such as a picture of Our Lady, a scapular, and a rosary. While Lucas is away, Marfa begins hanging around with certain Protestant families, who put ideas into her head and steer her down a path away from Our Sacred Religion. When Marfa finds that Lucas had brought her nothing but La Seiiora's holy relics, she becomes enraged and breaks them before throwing them in the fire. Days after this profanation, which took place on the 7 th day of this month (month not given) of this year (1908), Marfa is stricken with paralysis and such widespread leprosy that no one can look at her without disgust. Also, she becomes blind and deaf. She lives like this for four years, shunned by everyone. Her family doesn't know what to do, and her stench becomes so bad that no one can get nearer than 10 meters. True regret enters her soul, and she begs Our Lady for forgiveness, which is granted through infinite compassion. It is commanded that all throughout the land this story should be told, so that all may implore Our Lady to beg her Holy Son to always save the Mexican Nation from the calamities that befall humanity. Verso, lower half, contains a prayer to the Virgin in verse form, headed by a small engraving of the Virgin appearing to Juan Diego, likely by Posada. Engraving of Virgin on recto signed J. Engberg, Mex.
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Oracion a Nuestra Sra. Del Refugio
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Praise to Holy Mary in her aspect as the Refuge of Sinners (the source of all healing, the New Eve.), a title going back to Saint Germanus of Constantinople in the 700s. Relation, too, of portentous miracles attributed to her.
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Alabanzas, accion de gracias y tierno despedimento a nuestra augusta reina y patrona Maria Santisima de San Juan de las Lagos.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Praises to Mary, and a tender farewell and reminiscences from the viewpoint of a pilgrim returning home. Lower quarter of back page (if folded) contains a certificate of sorts, describing the benefits of pilgrimage as described by Pope Leo XIII and providing blank lines for a pilgrim to inscribe her/his name and date of visitation, making this a potential treasured keepsake for visitors. Leo XIII was pope from 1878-1903, so this could be presumed to have been printed in the latter part of that period. The text, however, makes mention of Jose de Jesus Ortiz, then Archbishop of Guadalajara, crowning the Virgin, an event which took place on August 15, 1904. Both Pope Leo XIII and Archbishop Ortiz were known for efforts in the cause of workers' rights.
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Loa dicha par Sancho Panza y Dona Cenobia. En honor de la pureza de Maria Santisima.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
A loa is a brief theatrical piece presented as an opening for a festival or introduction to a longer play. This form became popular in Spain in the 16th century and the tradition was carried on in Latin America. They were used to keep the audience occupied while waiting for the main event to begin, and they came in many forms for different purposes. The text of the present /oa indicates that it was used to commemorate the "Fiesta de Marfa y el Divina Sacramento".
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Loa dicha por el Dr. Mercolico en honor de nuestro senora de Guadalupe
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
A loa is a brief theatrical piece presented as an opening for a festival or introduction to a longer play. This form became popular in Spain in the 16th century and the tradition was carried on in Latin America. They were used to keep the audience occupied while waiting for the main event to begin and they came in many forms for different purposes.
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Tierno despedimento do los fieles a la Santisima Virgen de Guadalupe Patrona de la Republica Mexicana
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Presumed souvenir volante for visitors to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Features engravings of the Guadalupe medallion; a relation of Her coronation; a report of the celebration of declaration of basilica status to the church at Guadalupe, granted by Pope Pius X, on May 24, 1904; and a lengthy, loving 'farewell' from visitors from every region of the country (very similar to the farewell printed in the San Juan volante below). Unfolded. Printed on dark orange paper.
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lncreible suceso una mujer que se convierte en piedra relato traido de San Juan de los Lagos
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Dona Eugenia, who is sick, undertakes a pilgrimage to the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos. On the way there, demons cause her to become more and more angry at her promise to Our Lady, and she sinks into a rage of curses and blasphemies . With a clap of thunder, she is turned to stone! There seems to be some theological tension here between Old Testament ideas of God (Our unfortunate protagonist is compared to Lot's wife) and a more New Testament-ish concern with the compassion of God and the Holy Mother. In this case, Dona Eugenia remains a rock. An accompanying poem on verso restates the most pertinent points . But I still have questions. A wonderful signed Posada engraving is marred by printer's errors in the form of random black dots randomly occurring ...
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Nuestra Senora de San Juan de los Lagos
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Beautiful full-page depiction of the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos on recto; verso has another lovely engraving, this time of the Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos in Jalisco . Verso also contains prayers, an act of contrition, and verses in praise of the Holy Virgin and her miracles, all "in honor ofthe pious and memorable annual pilgrimage that the faithful make to her beautiful sanctuary."
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Accion de gracias a la Santlsima Virgen Marla de San Juan de los Lagos
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Gratitude and prayers to the Virgen of San Juan de Los Lagos for her love, intercession, and grace to the multitude of sinners prostrate with devotion. On verso, a tender farewell as pilgrims return to the far-flung corners of the republic (very similar to the farewell printed in the Guadalupe volante above). Lovely engraving of the basilica signed by Posada.
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Admirable milagro de la Sma. Virgen de Guadalupe en el pueblo de Taxco: un cirio con substancias explosivas
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
This sheet gives news of an unbeliever who went into a church to leave two candles, one of which was filled with explosives, to be used during a function for the Virgin of Guadalupe. The candles were lit before the service, but one attendant inexplicably felt that he had to extinguish the flames, thus saving everyone. Taking the candles away, it was noticed that one candle was heavier than the other, and the plot was laid bare. This was hailed as miraculous intervention by Mary.
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Coloquio para celebrar la maravillosa aparicion de Ntra. Senora de Guadalupe.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
A brief dramatization, with stage direction and musical chorus, of the miraculous appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, with further dialogue between Juan and Archbishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga.
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Devoto salutacion tiernas alabanzas accion de gracias y expresivo despedimento a la milagrosisima Imagen de Nuestra Seflora de San Juan de las Lagos.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Devotional volante filled with prayers and praise to Mother Mary. Lack of publisher info helps me to the conclusion that this was printed as an inexpensive keepsake for visitors to Her Holy Abode.
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La anima sola
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Here we have another of Posada's masterpieces, "The Lonely Soul," a breathtaking depiction of a tormented soul in purgatory pleading with Mother Mary and St. Joseph to intercede with the Holy Trinity on her behalf. The idea of purgatory, an intermediate place where souls suffer for a period of time in order to pay penance for sins committed while alive, has roots that extend centuries before Christianity and spread to the ancient belief systems of such far-flung locales as India, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Palestine. The concept gained widespread acceptance in the Church in the 1300s, became a point of fierce contention during the Reformation, and was probably brought to Mexico by the Jesuits in the 1600s, where the Anima Sola became the object of a cult of devotion. Even though sins could be and were forgiven, the soul still had to pay a penalty; the prayers of family and friends, though, could help assuage the suffering and shorten the time spent before admittance to the eternal reward.
The verso of this large piece contains an article about the penalties of purgatory and a "Fervent invocation made by the inconsolable Soul of Holy Purgatory, to the Highest Mystery of the Holy Trinity, mediated by its effective attorneys, Mary and Joseph." Signed "Posada Sta. Ines 5. Mexico."
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Loa dicha por una cocinera y un aguador en honor de nuestro senora del rosario
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
A loa is a brief theatrical piece presented as an opening for a festival or introduction to a longer play. This form became popular in Spain in the 16th century and the tradition was carried on in Latin America. They were used to keep the audience occupied while waiting for the main event to begin, and they came in many forms for different purposes.
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Milagrosa imagen de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Devotional print. Image on verso contains Jesus' head with crown of thorns and two angels flanking. Headline on verso translates: The maker of the world: he continues to unload his righteous anger on us, making us suffer his calamities.
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Singular fenomeno. El nino sin craneo en la villa de Guadalupe.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Agapita gives birth to a tragic baby with its eyes on its forehead and a tail like a monkey's. This causes amazement and confusion, as Agapita is a beautiful teen and her paramour, unnamed and only mentioned the once, is "a white youth and not bad-looking". This causes quite a stir, with some proclaiming that this is a punishment on the youths from God for not being obedient to their parents. Agapita visits the Virgin of Guadalupe, where her tears pour down her face and flow out of the temple, demonstrating her true repentance. She was punished twice: first by giving birth to something so alien, second by bearing the criticism, scorn, and judgment of the righteously outraged community. The poor fetus was transferred to the Public Ministry, whence it "will very probably be conducted to the National Museum, to display for the inspection of the public" . I withhold comment, but wow.
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Sorprendente milagro. Segunda aparicion de Nuestra Senora la Virgen Sontlsima de Guadalupe, entre la Hacienda de la Lecheria y San Martin.
lmprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo
Illustrator: Jose Guadalupe Posada
Come, all believers,
And adore with blind faith,
The Queen of the Heavens
Found in a maguey.
