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Last updated 4/11/2025

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This page is a list of books providing information about Froebel's paperfolding occupationspublished in Europe and the Americas between 1848 and 1899..

The works listed on this page were mostly aimed at teachers and parents (specifically mothers). Some books aimed at children published during the same period also contained similar paperfolding material, but these are not necessarily included here.

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1848

'Die Kindergärten' by Wilhelm Middendorf was published by Verlagsbuchhandlung der Kindheit und Jugendbeschäftigungsanstadt in Blankenberg and Rudolfstadt in 1848. It contains a description of children enjoying various paperfolding occupations in a kindergarten setting, notably a Lebensformen sequence from the Windmill Base, but also brief mentions of Ausschneiden and the making of boxes using folding and cutting.

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1850

Froebel did not publish anything remotely like a manual himself. All we have of his own writings on paperfolding related occupations is a fragment 'Anleitung zum papierfalten' (Instructions for Paperfolding) which was probably first published in one of Froebel's periodicals in 1850. It gives Froebel's method of creating four squares and a strip (for Verschnuren) from an oblong sheet, and a sequence of basic Erkenntisformen, used to teach basic mathematical properties, culminating in the Double Blintz Basic Form.

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1852

Chapter XXX of 'Die Padagogik des Kindergartens', a collection of Froebel's writings published in 1862, but which must date to before 1852, when Froebel died, contains mention of Verschnuren and the making of cubes from folded paper. From the description of these cubes it is not impossible that they are Playing Card Cubes, though alternatively they may be some kind of Cardboard Modelling design.

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1854

'Ein zusammenhängendes Ganzes von Spielen und Beschäftigungen für die erste Kindheit' by Baroness von Marenholz - Bulow. which was published by J B Fischer in Dresden in 1854, contains what is probably the earliest summary of Froebel's gifts and occupations. 11 occupations, said to be suitable for children of ages 3 to 10, are described, three of which relate to paperfolding (ie Falten, Verschnuren and Ausschneiden und Aufkleben).

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1855

'Woman's Educational Mission: Being an Explanation of Frederich Froebel's System of Infant Gardens', by Baroness von Marenholtz, translated into English by Elizabeth, Countess Krockow von Wickerode, was published by Darton and Co in London in 1855. It contains brief mentions of 'Folding Paper' (ie Falten), 'Stringing Paper' (ie Verschnuren), 'Plaiting Paper' (ie Flechten) and 'Cutting Paper' (ie Ausschneiden und Aufkleben).

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'A Practical Guide to the English Kinder Garten' by Joh and Bertha Ronge was published by Hodson and Son in London, also in 1855. It contains brief sections on 'Paper Folding' (ie Falten) and 'Cutting Paper' (ie Ausschneiden und Aufkleben).

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1856

Part 1 of 'Bilderswerkstatt als Arbeitsubung fur die Jugend in Schule und Haus' by Jan Daniel Georgens, was published in Glogau (then in Germany now in Poland) in 1856. It explains the folding of some basic mathematical forms (ie Erkenntnisformen) from the square, plus the geometry that can be learned from them, and information about Das Ausschneiden (ie Ausschneiden und Aufkleben).

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1857

Part 2 of 'Bilderswerkstatt als Arbeitsubung fur die Jugend in Schule und Haus' by Jan Daniel Georgens and Jean Marie von Gayette was published in Glogau in 1857. It also contains a section about Das Ausschneiden (ie Ausschneiden und Aufkleben).

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1859

'Manuel pratique des jardins d'enfants de Frédéric Froebel' was 'compose sur les documents Allemands' by J F Jacobs and published by F Claassen in Brussells and L Hachette and Cie in Paris in 1859. It contains chapters on Le Pliage (ie Falten), L'Entrelacement (ie Verschnuren) and Le Decoupage (ie Ausschneiden und Aufkleben). The Chapter on 'Le Pliage' contains information about the folding of some basic mathematical forms (ie Erkenntnisformen), 'des formes artistiques' (ie Schonheitsformen) and a list of 'des formes d'objets usuels' (ie Lebensformen).

This work was translated into Dutch and Italian, summarised in Spanish, and also formed the basis of Herman Goldammer's 'Der Kindergarten' (see below).

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1860

'Praktisch Handboek om Kinderen van 2 tot 8 Jaar' by J F Jacobs was published in Brussels and Amsterdam in 1860. It is a translation of 'Manuel pratique des jardins d'enfants de Frédéric Froebel' into Dutch. The paperfolding material in this translation appears to be identical to the material in the original book.

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While not a manual in its own right, a series of articles titled 'Jardines de Infancia' by Mariano Carderera in 'Anales de Primera Ensenanza. Periodico de las escuelas y de los maestros' (Annals of Primary Education: Periodical for Schools and Teachers) published in Madrid in 1860 summarised the material about paperfolding found in 'Manuel Pratique des Jardin D'Enfants de Frédéric Froebel'.

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1861

'Das Paradies der Kindheit' (The Paradise of Childhood) by Lina Morgenstern was published in Leipzig in 1861. It contains sections on 'Das Papierfalten' (Falten), 'Das Ausschneiden' (Ausschneiden und Aufkleben) and 'Das Schnuren ungetheilter Papierstreifen' (Verschnuren).

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1862

'Das Frobel'sche Faltblatt' (Frobel's Folding Sheet) by August Koehler was published by Hermann Bohlau in Weimar in 1862. The work is a guide to the use of a series of very simple paperfolds intended to be used to teach geometrical ideas in the elementary class (ie the two years above kindergarten). The work extends the range of Froebel's original Folds of Knowledge by showing how the square can be folded into other geometrical shapes, in particular using folds of 22.5, 30, and 60 degrees.

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1863

'Katechismus der praktischen Kindergärtnerei' by Friedrich Seidel was published by J J Weber in Leipzig in 1863. It contains chapters on Falten, Verschnuren, Ausschneiden und Aufkleben, and Pappen. The Introduction gives a clear and concise account of the state of kindergarten development in December 1862.

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'De Kleine Papierwerkers' was a series of four books written by Elise Van Calcar and published by K H Schadd in Amsterdam in or around 1863. 3 of the 4 volumes provide information about paperfolding:

Volume 1: 'Wat men van een stukje papier al maken kan: Het vouwen' (What one can make from a piece of paper: Folding) (ie Falten).

Volume 2: 'Wat men uit strookjes papier al vlechten kan' (What one can braid from strips of paper) (ie mostly frame weaving but some free weaving designs).

Volume 4: 'Het Knippen en plakken' (Cutting and Pasting) (ie mostly Ausschneiden und Aufklaben)..

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'Moral Culture of Infancy and Kindergarten Guide' by Mrs Horace Mann (Mary Tyler Peabody) and Elizabeth P Peabody was published by T O H P Burnham in Boston in 1863. It contains information on the use of paperfolding to facilitate the cutting of symmetrical shapes and as a way of teaching mathematical ideas. There is a brief mention of other toys made out of folded paper.

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1865

'De Frobelsche Kartonwerkers' by Elise Van Calcar is a manual of cardboard modelling designs. The work is undated but said to date from 1865.

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A series of booklets about Froebelian occupations by Seidel and Schmidt was published by Hermann Bohlau in Weimar in 1865/6 under the general title of 'Arbeitschule'. There were volumes on Flechten (weaving), Pappen (cardboard modelling), Ausschneiden and Schnuren mit Papier (Verschnuren), but not as far as I know on Falten.

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1869

'Der Kindergarten', edited by Hermann Goldammer, based largely on 'Manuel pratique des jardins d'enfants de Frédéric Froebel' by J F Jacobs (see above) was published by Habel in Berlin in 1869. It contains chapters on Das Falten, Aufschneiden und Aufkleben (as Ausflechen und Ausnahen), Das Flechten and Das Verschnuren.

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'Paradise of Childhood' by Edward Wiebe was published by Milton, Bradley and Company in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1869. It is largely based on Hermann Goldammer's 'Der Kindergarten' (see above).

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1868

'Der Kindergarten in seinen Wesen dargestellt' by August Koehler, which was published by Hermann Bohlau in Weimer in 1868, contains a list of gifts which include Das Faltblatt (Falten) and Das Auschneideblatt (Aufschneiden und Aufkleben). The list does not include Verschnuren although there is a brief reference elsewhere to folded strips.

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1871

'Manuale Practico dei Giradini D'Infanzia di Federico Frobel' is a translation into Italian of 'Manuel pratique des jardins d'enfants de Frédéric Froebel' by J F Jacobs (see above).

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'The Kindergarten' by Dr Adolf Douai is not a manual on the gifts and occupations per se but it is the earliest book to contain Steiger's Catalogue of kindergarten books and equipment which provides a list of 20 gifts (of which three relate to the folding of paper).

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1873

'Die Praxis Des Kindergartens' by August Koehler was published in three parts by Herman Bohlau in Weimar. Inter alia, Part 2, which was published in 1873, contains information about Dem Faltblatt (ie Falten), Dem Ab- und Auschneideblatt (ie Ausschneiden und Aufkleben), Dem Flechten (including Free Weaving), Den Schnurstreifen (Folding from strips). All the forms explained in this work which are developed from Koehler's Groundform are almost certainly original designs by the author, and this is also most probably true of the designs developed from the 2x1 rectangle and the triangle. The author also claims that some of the Free Weaving designs, specifically the Woven basket and the Woven Ship are his own designs, and that he has also invented some of the braided designs shown on Plate XXXI and the Paper Rosette variations shown on Plate XXXIII.

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'Der Kindergarten: Theoretisch-Praktisches Handbuch' by A S Fischer was published by Alfred Holder in Vienna in 1873. It contains some designs folded from paper strips (presented as preliminary exercises for the occupation of Verschnuren).

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'Bilder aus dem Kindergarten fur Mutter und Erzhieherrinen' by Ernst Barth was published in Leipzig in 1873. There are three passages dealing with paperfolding which contain photographic folding instructions. The first of these is simply some basic mathematical shapes, the second and third show how to fold some basic forms of life.

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'Exercices et Travaux pour les Enfants Selon la Méthode et les Procédés de Pestalozzi et de Froebel' by Fanny and Charles Delon was published by Librairie Hachette in Paris in 1873. It contains chapters on Le Tressage (Braiding), Le Pliage (Simple Folds of Life, Folds of Life (list only), Forms of Beauty) and Le Decoupage (Ausschneiden und Aufkleben).

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1874

A third edition of 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer, which contains significantly more information about Schonnheitsformen and Lebensformen than the earlier editions did, was published by Carl Babel in Berlin in 1874.

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1875

'Praktischer Wegweiser fur den Unterricht in der Elementarklasse' (Practical Guide for Teaching in the Elementary Class) by Anton Fruhwirth, Alois Fellner and Georg Ernst was published by A Pichler's Witwe & Sohn in Vienna in 1872. It contains brief information about Lebensformen, Schonnheitsformen and simple Erkenntnisformen, which appears to have been mostly extracted from the 1874 third edition of 'Der Kindergarten' (see above).

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'Die Formenarbeiten Part 3: Das Falten' and 'Part 4: Das Verschnuren', both by Alois Fellner, were published by A. Pichler's Witwe & Sohn in Vienna in 1875, and 'Part 6: Die Papparbeiten' followed in 1876. Part 3 contains sections on Erkenntnisformen, Schonheitsformen and Kombinations. An unusual feature of the Schonheitsformen is that the ouline of many of the forms is not square. Kombinations are 'forms that arise from the fact that several similarly folded sheets (ie the Erkenntnisformen) are combined to form a new whole'.

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'Froebels Methode' by Elise Van Calcar was published in 1875. There are chapters about 'Het Vouwen' (Falten), 'Het Papiervlechten' (Flechten) (which contains information about braiding) and 'Het Uitknippen, Scheuren en Opplakken' (Ausschneiden und Aufkleben). The majority of the illustrations previously appeared in the author's work 'De Kleine Papierwerkers', books 1, 2 and 4.

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1877

'Kindergarten Practice: Part II Froebel's Plane Surfaces' is an abridged translation of Koehler's 'Die Praxis Des Kindergarten' by Mary Gurney. The date of the first edition is unknown. The second was published in 1877. It contains sections on Paper Folding (Falten), Cutting (Ausschneiden und Aufklaben) and the folding of bookmarks (Flechten).

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'Le jardin d'enfants, dons et occupations' is a translation into French , by Louis Fournier, published in 1877, of the 1874 third edition of Hermann Goldammer's 'Der Kindergarten'. (See above.)

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1879

'Paedagogische Bibliotheek VI Frobel' by J Versluys, which was published by W Versluys in Groningen in 1879, is not a Froebelian manual per se but rather a critical appreciation of Froebel's system. There are sections on Falten, Verschnuren, Ausschneiden und Aufkleben, and Cardboard Modelling. The illustrations are taken from 'Katechismus der praktischen Kindergärtnerei' by Friedrich Seidel (see for 1863 above). While the text is largely based on the text of the earlier work it includes substantial interpolations by the author, who is particularly critical of the use of verbal descriptions of, or names for, paperfolds, particularly to describe Folds of Life, which he would probably remove from the Froebelian curriculum completely.

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'Manual Teorico-Practico de Educacion Parvulos' by D Pedro de Alcantara Garcia, 1879 was published in Madrid by the Imprenta del Colegio Nacional de Sordo-mudos y de Ciegos in 1879. It was the winner of a competition for 'a theoretical - practical treatise on teaching pre-school children according to the kindergarten system, known by the name of Froebel' set up by a decree issued by the Ministry of Development on 31st March 1876 (in fact it was the only entry to meet the requirements of the rules). Inter alia there are chapters devoted to the Froebelian occupations of Flechten (Braiding), Verschnuren, Falten and Ausschneiden und Aufkleben.

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1880

'The Kindergarten Principle' by Mary J Lyschinska, 1880

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'Maakt de Kinderen Gelukkig' by Elise Van Calcar, 1880

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1881

'De Jonge Werkman: Het Vlechten' by Elise Van Calcar, 1881

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1882

'Part 2 of The Kindergarten Guide' by Maria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus, 1882

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'Die Schulwerkstatt' by E Barth and W Niederly, 1882

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1883

'Giuochi Fanciulleschi Siciliani' by Giuseppe Pitri, 1883

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A heavily revised second edition of 'Der Kindergarten: Theoretisch-Praktisches Handbuch' by A S Fischer was published in 1883.

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