The Public Paperfolding History Project

Index Page

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Paper Cicadas
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of the origami designs for 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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The Crossover Cicada - 1931 onwards

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The Simple Cicada - 1931

As far as I am aware this design first appears in 'Origami (Part 1)' by Isao Honda, which was published in Japan in 1931.

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1937

Diagrams for another version of the Cicada (which has similarities to 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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