The Public Paperfolding History Project

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The Postman
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of the origami design known as the Postman. 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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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1914

Diagrams for this design appear, as 'The Farmer', in 'Zhe zhi tu shuo' (Illustrated Paperfolding), compiled by Gui Shaolie, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in Ming guo 3 (1914).

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In Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1905

As far as I know a drawing of this design first appears in 'Shukouka Kyohon : Liron Jishuu Souga Setsumei' by Kikujiro Kiuchi, Rokushiro Uehara and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Shigebei Takase in Chiba in 1905.

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1927

A drawing of the same design also appears in a 1927 issue of the children's magazine 'Kodomo No Kuni' (The Land of Children).

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1931

Diagrams for the design appear in 'Origami (Part 1)' by Isao Honda, which was first published in Japan in 1931.

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1951

The Postman appears in the guise of Santa Claus in 'Origami: Folding Paper for Children' by Claude Sarasas, which was first published by Kodansha in Tokyo in 1951.

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In Western Europe and the Americas

1961

The design appears in 'The Art of Origami' by Samuel Randlett, which was published by E P Dutton in New York in 1961. The book also includes a photograph of a pre-printed sheet for this design, presumably of Japanese origin, from the John Andreas collection.

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