Origami Heaven

A paperfolding paradise

The website of writer and paperfolding designer David Mitchell

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The Newspaper Tree
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of the origami design usually rolled and cut from newspaper and known as the Newspaper Tree. 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.

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1920

As far as I know this design first appears in 'Paper Magic' by Will Blyth, which was first published by C Arthur Pearson in London in 1920.

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This effect also appears in:

1922

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

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1932

'Winter Nights Entertainments' by R M Abraham, which was first published by Constable and Constable in London in 1932, under the title of 'A Paper Pine Tree'.

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1937

'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, under the title of 'Poplar Tree'. This variant only uses four small cuts.

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1949

'Au Pays des Mains Agiles', which was published by Editions Fleurus in Paris in 1949. In this case the design is made by rolling several sheets of paper together.

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