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1440

As far as I know this box was first drawn to the attention of the paperfolding world in a letter from Barbara Benson of Atlanta Georgia (aka Donna Serena de Riva) to David Lister, see https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/11546606/paper-folding-in-15th-century-europe-welcome-to-my-website-it-

This box does not have an established name. I call it the Catherine of Cleves box because it first appears, as an incidental illustration at the bottom of a page devoted to St Agatha, in the magnificent Flemish illustrated manuscript known as the Hours of Catherine of Cleves which dates to around 1440. The box is a fold and cut design and completely unlike anything else that we know of from that date.

The pictures below show the page as a whole and the detail of the box, pictured in both folded and unfolded form, from the bottom margin.

It is not clear whether the box pictured in the illustration would have been made from paper or parchment. Both materials would have been available at this date.

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1840

As far as I know modern diagrams for this design first appear as 'Paper Box' in 'The School Boy's Holiday Companion' by T Kentish, which was published by Relfe and Fletcher in London in 1840

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1859

Diagrams also appear in 'The Boy's Own Toymaker' by Ebenezer Landells which was published in 1859 by Griffin and Farran in London and Shephard, Clark and Brown in Boston.

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The design also appears:

1873

In 'The Popular Recreator', which was published by Cassell and Co in London in 1873.

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1876

In 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' by E Barth and W Niederley, which was first published in Bielefeld and Leipzig, and the foreword of which is dated October 1876.

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1880

In 'The Kindergarten Principle' by Mary J Lyschinska, which was published in London in 1880 by Wm Isbister Ltd.

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In 'Un million de jeux et de plaisirs' by T de Moulidars, which was first published in 1880 and subsequently republished under the title 'Grande encyclopédie méthodique, universelle, illustrée, des jeux et des divertissements de l'esprit et du corps'.

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1881

In 'Cassell's Book of Indoor Amusements, Card Games and Fireside Fun', which was published by Cassell and Co in London in 1881.

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1884

In 'Jeux et Jouet du Jeune Age' by Gaston Tissandier, which was published by G Masson in Paris in 1884. In this version slits have been cut in the side of the box so that it can be used as a cage for insects.

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1889

In 'La Science Pratique' by Gaston Tissandier, which was published by G Masson in Paris in 1889.

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1890

There is reference to 'boxes made by cutting slits in paper' in 'Soap Bubbles and the Forces which Mould Them' by C V Boys was published by The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge in London and by E and J B Young and Co in New York in 1890, which is probably a reference to the Catherine of Cleves Box design..

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1891

In 'Pleasant Work for Busy Fingers' by Maggie Browne, which was published by Cassell and Company in London in 1891. This book is an English version of 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' enhanced by the addition of a few extra designs.

Michel Grand has kindly sent me a review of this book which appeared in the Spectator of 2nd January 1892 and which appears to refer to an alternative version of this box which the writer remembers from their childhood. I do not, however, understand the nature of this alternative box.

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1896

As 'Las Cajas' in 'Repertorio Completo de Todos los Juegos' by de Luis Marco y Eugenio de Ochoa y Ronna, which was published in Madrid by Bailly-Bailliere e hijos in 1896.

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1900

In 'Die Frobelschen Beschaftigungen: Das Falten' by Marie Muller-Wunderlich, which was published by Friedrich Brandstetter in Leipzig in 1900.

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In 'What Shall We Do Now?, by Edward Verral Lucas and Elizabeth Lucas, which was published by Frederick A Stokes Company in New York in 1900.

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1905

An illustration of the Catherine of Cleves Box appears in the Buenos Aires edition of the magazine 'Caras y Caretas', Issue 238, of 25th March 1905, where it is called the 'caja cerrada'.

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1911

'Häusliche Kleinkunst und Bastelarbeit in Wort und Bild' by Hermann Pfeiffer, which was published by Verlag von Hermann Zieger in Leipzig in 1911.

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1920

'Paper Magic' by Will Blyth, which was first published by C Arthur Pearson in London in 1920.

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1922

'Houdini's Paper Magic', which was published by E P Dutton and Company of New York in 1922.

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1928

'Fun with Paperfolding' by William D Murray and Francis J Rigney was published by the Fleming H Revell Company, New York in 1928, where is is called 'The House'.

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1933

'Diversions and Pastimes' by R M Abraham, which was first published by Constable and Constable in London in 1933.

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1937

As the 'Closed Box' in 'Paper Toy Making' by Margaret Campbell, which was first published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd in London, probably in 1937, although both the Foreword and Preface are dated 1936, which argues that the book was complete at that date.

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1968

As 'Gift Box', in 'Your Book of Paperfolding' by Vanessa and Eric de Maré, which was published by Faber and Faber in London in 1968.

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