Only the united beat of sex and heart together can create ecstasy.”
Anaïs Nin
In the early 1920s, Istanbul was a city in transition. The Ottoman Empire had recently dissolved, and the newly established Republic of Turkey was emerging amidst political and social upheaval. Amidst this backdrop, a daring literary venture appeared: “Bin Bir Buse”, an erotic magazine that offered a glimpse into the private and forbidden desires of its time.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were various forms of erotic literature and publications circulating in the Ottoman Empire. These included illustrated magazines, serialized stories, and private publications that often circulated clandestinely due to the conservative social norms of the time. However, detailed records of these publications are scarce, and many were subject to censorship or suppression. Bin Bir Buse (A Thousand and One Kisses), published between 1923 and 1924 in Istanbul, is one of the most well-documented early erotic magazines in the Turkish history.
Published by Amedi Matbaası, the magazine was issued on a weekly basis, with each edition consisting of 24 pages and priced at 5 kuruş per issue. While the exact authorship remains uncertain, many literary historians attribute the magazine’s creation to the renowned novelist Mehmet Rauf, a prominent figure in early Turkish literature. Its subtitle, “The Most Playful, Most Risqué Stories”, made clear the magazine’s daring focus.
Mehmet Rauf
The magazine featured erotic stories and illustrations that explored themes of love, desire, forbidden relationships, and human passions. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Istanbul, the stories often reflected the social realities of the city while embracing a bold narrative style that challenged the era’s conservative norms. Bin Bir Buse offered a rare space where intimate human emotions could be explored without restraint, making it a significant cultural artifact for understanding the private lives and fantasies of early Republican society.
Although its publication was brief, Bin Bir Buse has survived as a valuable historical resource. In 2023, all surviving issues were compiled and published by Eva Publishing Company under the title “Bin Bir Buse: 1923-24 Istanbul’dan Erotik Bir Mecmua”, edited by researcher Ömer Türkoğlu. This collection provides scholars and readers alike with a unique window into the literary and social fabric of early 20th-century Istanbul.
Given its erotic content, the magazine is intended for adult readers, but its significance extends beyond titillation. It remains an important document of literary experimentation, social history, and the evolving boundaries of public and private expression in the early years of modern Turkey.
Glance through these magazine covers which remind us human desire has always found a way to express itself!
Magazine visuals are taken from https://phebusmuzayede.com/
