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El Mundo de Papel by Nemesio Montero, 1939
 
'El Mundo de Papel' by Dr Nemesio Montero was published by 'Ediciones Infancia' (which was in fact Dr Montero himself) in Valladolid in 1939. Subsequent editions were issued by Editorial Sever Cuesta. The book was extended with the addition of further designs in 1951.

The images on this page are taken from the 10th Edition, kindly provided by Juan Gimeno, but I believe they are fundamentally similar to those in the original book.

At the top of the Indice Alfabetico de Modelos (Alphabetical Index of Designs) the author states: ‘Los modelos senalados con un punto * son originales del autor y de se hermana Esperanza.’ (The designs marked with an asterisk are originals of the author and his sister Esperanza.) This statement is, however, problematical. While some of the designs marked with asterisks may indeed be original works of the author and/or his sister the status of this claim is somewhat dubious in relation to other designs.

As far as the designs included in the 1939 edition are concerned this doubt applies to:

‘La mesa con mantel’ which can be found in 'The Kindergarten Guide' by Maria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus, which was probably first published in 1882, and in a few other Froebelian books prior to 1939.

‘El Violetero’ which is identical to ‘Le Porte-Allumettes’ in Booklet 3 of ‘L’Image de Pliers’, published in 1932.

‘El cangrejo del mar’ which can also be found, as ‘Le Crabe’ in ‘L’Image de Pliers’ but in this case in Booklet 4.

In addition, while this may be the earliest publication of 'El borriquillo con aguaderas', it is most probably a design invented at an earlier date by a follower of Miguel de Unamuno. (Per Juan Gimeno)

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The book begins with a series of photographs of montages made using the designs in the book.

There are also introductory diagrams (Models 1 to 12) of a series of preliminary folds and bases.

The other models are divided into six sections based on whether they are folded from square or rectangular paper and on their perceived grade of difficulty.

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Designs from square paper - Grade 1

La sombrilla que se abre y cierra - The Umbrella

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El Molinillo - The Cut and Fold Windmill

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Vaso para el campo - The Paper Cup

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Carpeta de escritorio - The Blotting Paper Holder

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Galleta sonora - The Paper Banger

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El Sofa - The House

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Designs from rectangular paper - Grade 1

Espiral que salta - The Jumping Spiral

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El baston - The Staff

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El Restallador -

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La pistola de dos canones - The Double- Barrelled Pistol

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El cucurucho que explota - The Exploding Cone

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El cucurucho volador - The Flying Cone

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Don Simon

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El papelillo del boticario (The apothecary's paper) - The Rectangular Packet

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La flecha - The Paper Dart

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La silla - The Chair

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La montera - The Newspaper Hat

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La cofia de enfermera - The Nurse's Cap

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La repisa para juguetes - The Shelf

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La artesa - The Trough

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Designs from square paper - Grade 2

La tienda de campana - The Tent

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La mariposa que mueve las alas - The Flapping Butterfly

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El bonete del cura - The Curate's Hat

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El Fuelle - The Bellows

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El paraguas - The Parasol

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Las aguaderas (y cielo y infierno) - The Salt Cellar

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La mesa con mantel - The Tablecloth

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El pez monstruo - The Monster Fish

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El candil y la gondola - The Boat with Sail

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La pajarita - The Cocotte / Pajarita

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El acorazado - The Battleship

This design is developed from The Steamship

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El carro con toldo (The wagon with awning) - The Wagon / El Carro

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El molino misterioso - The Mysterious Windmill

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El barco doble - The Double Hulled Boat

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El barco volero - The Double Boat with Two Sails

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El molde para mantecadas (The mold for shortbread) - The Junk Box

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La gorra del cartero - The Postman's Hat

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El barco de la reina (The Queen's ship) - The Chinese Junk

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La Camisa de Caballero (The Gentleman's Shirt)

The main part of the shirt is developed from a form similar to the Junk Box.

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La chocolatera (The chocolate maker)

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Mi cajita (My little box) - The Cake Box

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La banqueta y la estrella - The Double Star

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Designs from rectangular paper - Grade 2

La casita -

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El gorro del soldado italiano - The Italian Soldier's Hat

This hat is made from a version of the House developed from an oblong rather than a square.

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La cartera - The Wallet

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Cajita paper juguetes de papel (Paper box for paper toys) - The Patisserie Box

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El cerdito - The Pig

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La petaca - The Hip Flask

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El violetero - The Match Holder

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Las banderillas - The Flags

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La mitra - The Mitre

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El estuche de lapiceros - The Pencil Case

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El gorro de 'legionario espagnol' -

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La pila del agua bendita y el gorro del lobo del mar (The holy water font and hat of the seawolf) - The Pyramidal Hat and the Sou-wester

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El barquito - The Paper Boat

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Designs from rectangular paper - Grade 3

El tanque de guerra - The Tank

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La trompetilla - The Trumpet

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El aeroplano - a hybrid design putting together the nose and wings of the Swallow and the fuselage and tail of the Model Aeroplane.

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Las gafas del aviador - The Aviator's Goggles

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La cama - The Bed

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Designs from square paper - Grade 3

Pajarita que mueve las alas - The Flapping Bird

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El puchero - The Kettle

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La cigüeña volando y en reposo (The stork flying and at rest) -

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La rana del Japon - The Blow-up Frog

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El cangrejo del mar - The Crab

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El pinguino -

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La jirafa -

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El dromedario -

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El gallo -

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El elephante

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El borriquillo con aguaderas - The Donkey with Panniers

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El Esquiador - The Skier

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