| The Public Paperfolding History Project
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| Metamorphoses / Harlequinades | |||||||
| This
page attempts to summarise the history of Metamorphoses /
Harlequinades / which are a kind of flap book with flaps
to the top and bottom of the page which can be folded in
and out as the directions for the story require. These
books often have Harlequin as the central character,
hence the name Harlequinade. 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. A catalogue of early books with moveable parts, including Metamorphoses / Harlequinades, can be found here. This page only includes a few of the Metamorphoses / Harlequinades known. *********** 1650 According to the Union Catalogue of Early Moving Books (see link above) the two earliest known Metamorphoses were both published in 1650. 'Harlequin's Metamorphoses' was published in London in 1650 by Martin George. I have not been able to find any further details of this book. 'The beginning, progress and end of man' was also published in London in 1650, by B Alsop for T Dunster. This book is held in the British Library. Closed and open images are shown below. The wording of the story can be found here.
********** 1765 In the late 18th Century a series of Metamorphoses / Harlequinades were devised and priunted by the publisher Robert Sayer. ********** Adam and Eve by Robert Sayer, 1765. Note the similarity to the 1650 book above.
********** Mother Shipton by Robert Sayer, 1771
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