The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Last updated 4/92024

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The Paper Ball
 
This page attempts to record those instances where paper balls are specifically mentioned in the historical record at an early date or are used in unusual or unexpected ways. 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.

It is, of course, likely that people have been screwing sheets of paper into paper balls for almost as long as paper has existed.

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c1500

The first historical reference to paper balls that I am aware of occurs in the manuscript 'De Viribus Quantitatis' by Luca Pacioli, which was written about 1502. I have not been able to access the original manuscript or an English translation. The quotations on this page are taken from the dissertation 'Luca Pacioli and his 1500 book De Viribus Quantitatis' which can be found at http://repositorio.ul.pt/bitstream/10451/18435/1/ulfc113829_tm_Tiago_Hirth.pdf which states that the manuscript contains a section headed: 'To make small balls of white paper, as said in another part' in which 'Paper is coated in a mixture of dissolved Alum or sabsci (some form of soap might be meant, this would also work). The balls made of this paper are said to float. Pacioli suggests a performance or scam where some participants are given the coated balls and others not. In the scam, those who don’t manage to make their balls float have to pay.'

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1961

The March-April 1961(Vol 15 Iss 2) issue of 'Print' magazine contains an advert for Olin Packaging featuring a Paper Ball. This is the earliest advert featuring a paper ball that I know of at present.

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