The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Turtles / Tortoises
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of folded Paper Turtles and Tortoises. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

See also Crane and Tortoise Designs

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1885

A design for a turtle, presumably cut, appears in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro, which was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885).

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1892

The same design appears in 'Kani Shukogaku' (Simple Handicraft) by Tamotsu Shibue, which was published in Tokyo in 1892.

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The Minogame - 1894 onwards

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1917

Two designs for turtles appear in 'Xu Zhe zhi tu shuo' (More Illustrated Paperfolding) by Yongxiang Shi, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in 1917.

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The Cut Turtle - 1931 onwards

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1951

The extended version of 'El Mundo de Papel' by Dr Nemesio Montero, which was published by G Miranda in Edicions Infancia in Valladolid in 1951, contains a design for 'La Tortuga' (The Turtle)

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1956

'Paper Magic' by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne in London in 1956 contains diagrams for Harbin's 'Tortoise' ...

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... and for Harbin's 'Shy Tortoise', an active play paperfold'

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1959

A design for a cut turtle, from a bird base, where the cut is used to separate the back legs,appears in 'Pocket Guide to Origami: Bow-Wow Book', by Isao Honda, which was published by the Asahi Origami Club, Tokyo in 1959. Also see 1968.

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1968

The same cut turtle design appears again in 'Your Book of Paperfolding' by Vanessa and Eric de Maré, which was published by Faber and Faber in London in 1968, where it was is to be a traditional Japanese design.

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