The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Last updated 27/2/2024

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The King's Crown / The Battleship
 
This page is being used to collect information about the history of the paperfolding design known as the King's Crown and its derivative the Battleship. 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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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1914

Diagrams for this design, interpreted as a 'Penholder', 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 Europe and the Americas

1882

As far as I know, this design first appears, as 'The King's Crown', in part two of 'The Kindergarten Guide' by Maria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus, which was probably first published in 1882 by E. Steiger and Company in New York.

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The King's Crown also appears:

1887

As 'Krone' in part 2 'Die Praxis' of 'Theoretisches und praktisches Handbuch der Fröbelschen Erziehungslehre' by Bertha von Marentholtz-Bülow, which was published by George H Wigand in Kassel in 1887.

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1893

As 'Crown' in 'Paper and Scissors in the Schoolroom' by Emily Weaver, which was published by Milton Bradley Company in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1893.

This book also contains instructions for folding a variation of the King's Crown titled 'Boy's Hat'.

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1896

In Eleonore Heerwart's 'Course in Paperfolding', which was first published in Dutch in 1895 then in English by Charles and Dible in London and Glasgow in 1896. The design is pictured, but not named in this book.

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1897

In 'Kindergarten Guide' by Lois Bates, which was first published by Longmans, Green and Co in London in 1897.

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1900

In 'Die Frobelschen Beschaftigungen: Das Falten' by Marie Muller-Wunderlich, which was published by Friedrich Brandstetter in Leipzig in 1900.

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1910

As 'Crown' in 'Educational Handwork' by T B Kidner, which was published by The Educational Book Company Limited in Toronto in 1910.

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1928

'Fun with Paperfolding' by William D Murray and Francis J Rigney, which was published by the Fleming H Revell Company, New York in 1928 contains a multipiece Battleship the basis of which is a version of the King's Crown. Compare the Battleship in 'El Mundo de Papel' by Dr Nemesio Montero, which is developed from the Steamship.

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1937

The King's Crown also appears in 'Paper Toy Making' by Margaret Campbell, 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.

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