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Last updated 9/1/2024

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Paperfolding has been used as political propaganda in several ways:

By the use of images of well known paperfolds in satirical cartoons, specifically the Cocotte / Pajarita and the Newspaper Hat . Many examples of this can be found in the pages devoted to these paperfolds.

In the use of Newspaper Hats as election campaign promotional items. An example of this dating from 1896 can be found here.

By the production of novelty paperfolds which convey a propaganda message.

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16th Century Dutch Patriotic Pamphlets - 1780 to 1787

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1814

This French fold-in, which dates to around 1814, is propaganda on behalf of Louis XVIII of France. (Information from Juan Gimeno)

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1814 - 1830

See entry for 1917 which says, 'These kinds of images are not new, as we know, since already under the first Restoration, Louis XVIII folded up gave a Napoleon'. Unfortunately, at present, no such image has been located.

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The Fifth Pig and similar Fold-Ins - 1878 onwards

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1914

This German fold-in from 1914 headed 'We Will Be Victorious' shows the leaders of France, England, Belgium, Japan, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro and collapses to portraits of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austro-Hungary and William 2 of Germany.

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This is an Austrian variant (kindly supplied by Juan Gimeno).

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This is another Austrian propaganda fold from the same period. In this case the design is intended to be folded in half then held up to the light to create the second image (on the right). (The face of the figure on the right is corrupted in this image.) Information from Juan Gimeno.

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c 1914-1918

Italian propaganda postcard from the 1914 -1918 war.

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c1942 - Lock 'em Up

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Mad magazine Fold-Ins - 1964 onwards

In issue 86, published in 1964, Mad magazine featured an innovative inside back cover illustration by Al Jaffee which was designed so that the picture folded inwards in a zigzag fashion to reveal another picture, with a satirical connection between the two. These 'Fold-ins' became a regular feature of the magazine. Some of these fold-ins, such as the one shown below, which is from April 1965, were overtly political in nature.

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