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The Collapsible Box is a version of the Basic Box.

In the East this design is commonly folded from a 3x2 rectangle. There appear to be two different ways of shaping the handles.

The Western version is folded by a different method and can easily be folded from any oblong.

This is probably another instance of a similar design being developed independently in Japan and the West.

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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1914

Diagrams for this design appear 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)

1751

This illustration of the Collapsible Box is taken from 'Onna Shorei Shutaizen' by Tatsunobo Kitao which was published in 1751. Sourced from 'Oru Kikoro', the catalogue of an exhibition on paperfolding history held in Tatsuno City History and Culture Museum in 1999.

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1843

This print by Kunisada Utagawa showing a Collapsible Box can be dated to 1843. Sourced from 'Oru Kikoro', the catalogue of an exhibition on paperfolding history held in Tatsuno City History and Culture Museum in 1999.

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1844

This print, also by by Kunisada Utagawa, and also showing a Collapsible Box, can be dated to 1844. Sourced from 'Oru Kikoro', the catalogue of an exhibition on paperfolding history held in Tatsuno City History and Culture Museum in 1999. The rectangle in the bottom right corner is an overlap from another print.

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Diagrams for the Collapsible Box appear in 'Shukoka Kyoju Saian' by Gentaro Tanahashi and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Hobunkan in Tokyo in 1905.

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1912

A drawing of a design that appears to be the Collapsible Box appears in a monozukushi-e print, by an unknown artist, but said to be from the Meiji era. I have temporarily assigned it the date of 1912, the last year of that era, pending the discovery of more accurate information.

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1959

The Collapsible Box also appears (as the Folding Box) in 'How to Make Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Shuppan Co. Ltd in Japan. by McDowell Obolensky of New York in the USA and by Museum Press Ltd of London in England, in 1959.

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1965

Two versions of the Collapsible Box appear in 'The World of Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published in the USA by Japan Publications Trading Company in 1965.

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In Western Europe and the Americas

1840

The Collapsible Box appears in 'The School Boy's Holiday Companion' by T Kentish, which was published by Relfe and Fletcher in London in 1840, where it is called 'A Paper Cap'. However, it is also used in the same book as a box.

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