The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Paper Cicadas
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of folded paper cicadas. 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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The Kabuto Base Cicada - 1845 onwards

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1914

A simple design for a Cicada appears 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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The Crossover Cicada - 1931 onwards

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1936

Diagrams for another version of the Cicada (which is developed from a later stage of the Kabuto design), appear in Margaret Campbell's 'Paper Toy Making', 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. In this case the eyes are simply drawn on once the folding is finished.

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