Main Index Page

Last updated 28/3/2024

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This page also includes information about the simple wider variation where the top of the hat is flat.

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In Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1878

A picture of a version of the Newspaper hat appears in 'Yochien Ombutsu No Zu', a publication of kindergarten material issued by the Tokyo Women's Normal School in 1878.

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1965

A version of the Newspaper Hat, with the ends tucked in slightly, appears, as 'Paper Hat', 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 Europe and the Americas

1832

The earliest illustration of this design that I know of occurs in this drawing from 'La Caricature', No 63 of 12 January 1832 entitled 'Les Armes du Grand Poulot'.

The publication of this drawing, along with an article and another drawing from the same issue, was the basis of a prosecution brought against the editor of La Caricature, Charles Philipon. Full details are here.

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This cartoon appeared in the French satirical periodical 'La Charivari' on 2nd December 1832.

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'La Caricature' no 109 of 6 December 1832, which can be found at https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1048946v/f1.item, also includes a man wearing a newspaper hat. The print also shows six cocottes on top of the monument. My thanks to Juan Gimeno for this information.

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1840

This picture of a child playing at soldier's with his dog is by the French painter Charlemagne Oscar Guet (1801-1871) and can be dated to 1840.

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1843

A Newspaper Hat appears in a painting by Antonio Maria Esquivel which is in the Museo del Romanticismo in Madrid and can be dated to 1843. It is a self-portrait with his sons Carlos and Vicente.

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1848

This painting by Carl Friedrich Moritz Muller (1807-1865), titled 'Christmas Eve' and dated 1848, shows Newspaper Hats worn by toy figures made from potatoes. Information from Pedro Lavado via Juan Gimeno.

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1849

Another early drawing of a newspaper hat appears in an illustration by Vilhelm Pedersen (1820-1859) which was published in the 1849 2nd Edition of Hans Andersen's tales. Information from Juan Gimeno.

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1853

This cartoon featuring Newspaper Hats appeared in the May 18th 1853 issue of the British satirical magazine 'Punch'. (Information from Juan Gimeno)

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1863

There are diagrams for the newspaper hat (titled 'The General's Hat'), and several illustrations showing these hats being worn by children, in 'Spielbuch fur Knaben' by Hermann Wagner, which was published by Verlag von Otto Spamer in Leipzig in 1864, although the foreword is dated May 1863, which argues that the book was complete at that date.

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1864

A Newspaper Hat is shown in one of the illustrations in 'Every Little Boy's Book', which was published by Routledge, Warne and Routledge in London in 1864, although instructions for making the hat are not included in the book.

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1865

The diagrams (though not the other illustrations) that appeared in 'Spielbuch fur Knaben' by Hermann Wagner also appear in 'Spielbuch fur Madchen' by Maria Leske (a pseudonym of Marina Krebs), which was published by Verlag von Otto Spamer in Leipzig in 1865.

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1871

A Newspaper Hat is found in another John Tenniel illustration, this time for Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There', first published in 1871. The illustration shows Alice in a railway carriage sitting opposite a man wearing a white paper suit and a Newspaper Hat. According to Martin Gardner (in 'The Annotated Alice, 1998, p.218) the fact that the man is dressed in white paper is a political joke. He believes that Tenniel’s illustration shows a cartoon of Benjamin Disraeli and that Tenniel may have had in mind the ‘white papers’ (official documents) with which such statesmen are surrounded. Before he illustrated the Alice books, Tenniel had once portrayed Disraeli in a Government White Paper suit. However, Michael Hancher, writing in 'The Tenniel Illustrations to the ‘Alice’ Books, 1985' disputes this identification as the man in white paper does not have the obvious chin or goatee, which are normally present in Tenniel’s caricatures of Disraeli. Source: http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/resources/analysis/picture-origins/

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A Newspaper Hat is featured in this cartoon to be found in volume 2 of the 'Collection de caricatures et de charges pour servir à l’histoire de la guerre et de la revolution de 1870-1871' held at Heidleburg University.

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This cartoon was published in the French satirical magazine L'Eclipse on 29th October 1871.

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1874

A picture of a Newspaper Hat appears in 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer which was published by Carl Babel in Berlin in 1874 under the title of 'Einen Generalehut' (The General's Hat).

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The Newspaper Hat appears in an illustration, and is mentioned in the text as 'Ein Generalshut' (A General's Hat), in 'Spiel und Arbeit' by Hugo Elm, which was published by Verlag und Drud der Otto Spamer in Leipzig in 1874.

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1876

A Newspaper Hat, provided with a pleated cockade, appears in 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' by E Barth and W Niederley, which was first published in Bielefeld and Leipzig, and the foreword of which is dated October 1876.

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The Cahier de Adele Tissot, which can be dated to 1876, contains a folded example of a Newspaper Hat, and of a plume to accompany it (foot of second page).

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1882

A version of the Newspaper Hat, here titled 'The Soldier's Hat' and made by the unusual method of folding one flap forward and one flap back, the method by which the Mitre is made, appears in part two of 'The Kindergarten Guide' by Maria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus, which was probably first published by E. Steiger and Company in New York in 1882.

The section from which this picture comes is introduced with the words 'The oblong is also used for paper-folding. Most of the Forms of Life derived from it were known before the days of our grandfathers.'

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1883

'The American Girls's Home Book of Work and Play' by Helen Campbell, which was published by G P Putnam's Sons in 1883, contains diagrams for 'Paper Caps or Cocked Hats'

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1885

This picture of a child wearing a newspaper hat while riding a mechanical hobby horse appeared in the issue of Scientific American for 9th May 1885. Information from Juan Gimeno.

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1887

A wide version of the newspaper hat appears as 'Chapeau de gendarme' in 'Cours de Travail Manuel (Pour les Garcons) - Premiere Partie - Cours Elementaire' by A Planty, which was published by Gedalge Jeune in Paris in 1887.

In the introduction to Chapter 1 the author says 'Everyone is familiar with these folds, because everyone was a child, wore the legendary hat ...'.

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'Exercises de Travaux Manuels d'apres le journal 'L'Instruction Primaire', a book of folded examples of classwork produced by L'ecole Louis Vauquelin de Rouen in 1886-1887, includes actual examples of Newspaper Hats folded by pupils at the school.

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1889

The illustration on the cover of 'La Charge' for 5th May 1889 featured a Newspaper Hat:

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'Royal Gifts for the Kindergarten' by Frances Post Van Norstrand and Alice H Putnam, which was published by the Standard Publishing Company in Chicago in 1889, includes an illustration of a Newspaper Hat.

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1890

The first volume of 'La Science Amusante' by Tom Tit (real name Arthur Good), which was published in Paris by Librairie Larousse in 1890 included an illustration of an optical illusion featuring a Newspaper hat.

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This Trade Card from Hire's Beer was issued in 1890. The date is on the Newspaper Hat.

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The design also appears as 'Den Generalshut' (The General's Hat) in 'Grosses Illustriertes Spielbuch fur Knaben' by Dr Jan Daniel Georgens, which was published in Berlin in 1890.

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1891

There are references to a chapeau de gendarme, which I take to be the Newspaper hat, in the 'Bulletin de la Societe de Protection des Apprentis', an official document issued by the Societe de Protection des Apprentis et des Enfants Employes par les Manufactures in Paris in 1891.

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The design also appears:

In 'Pleasant Work for Busy Fingers' by Maggie Browne, which was published by Cassell and Company in London in 1891. This book is an English version of 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' enhanced by the addition of a few extra designs.

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1891

As 'Generalshut' (General's Hat) in 'Illustriertes Spielbuch fur Kinder' by Ida Bloch was published by Otto Spamer in Leipzig in 1891.

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1892

As 'Chapeau de Gendarme' in 'Le Travail Manuel a L'ecole Primaire' by Jully & Rocheron, which was published by Librairie Classique Eugene Belin in Paris in 1892.

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1893

As 'Chapeau de Gendarme', in 'L'Annee Preparatoire de Travail Manuel' by M P Martin, which was published by Armand Collin & Cie in Paris in 1893. This occurrence is unusual in that one flap is folded forwards and the other backwards, but this is presumably to facilitate the folding of the Mitre which follows.

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As ' Montera' in 'Cuestiones de Pedagogía Práctica: Medios de Instruir' by D Vicente Castro Legua, which was published by Libreria de la Viuda de la Hernando y Ca in Madrid in 1893.

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1895

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.

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In 'L'enseignement manuel dans les ecoles du degre primaire (garcons)' by Rene Leblanc, which was published by Librairie Larousse in Paris in 1895.

1896

This caricature of Felice Cavallotti wearing a Newspaper Hat appeared in the Italian (Turin) satirical magazine 'Il Pasquino' on 12th July 1896.

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This Newspaper Hat was given away as a free supplement with the Boston Sunday Globe of 9th August 1896 in support of the presidential campaign of William J Bryan. The obverse carried the name of his running mate Arthur Sewall. Other similar hats from around the same time exist.

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1898

This French cartoon by Henri Lebourgeois from 1898 shows Emile Zola being pelted with a strange variety of objects whilst wearing a Newspaper Hat.

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1899

The Newspaper Hat and a variation in which the top point is tucked into the brim, here called 'Le Bonnet de Police', appear in 'Le Livre des Amusettes' by Toto, which was published in Paris by Charles Mendel in 1899.

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This poster also dates from 1899.

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As does this Nestle advert which appeared in Journal des Instituteurs for 14th May 1899.

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1900

An illustration of the Newspaper Hat appears in 'Mes Jolie Jeux' by Henriette Suzanne Bres was published by Librairie Hachette in Paris in 1900.

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The design also appears as 'A Cocked Hat' in 'What Shall We Do Now?', by Edward Verral Lucas and Elizabeth Lucas, which was published in 1900.

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A Newspaper Hat is also illustrated in 'Die Frobelschen Beschaftigungen: Das Falten' by Marie Muller-Wunderlich, which was published by Friedrich Brandstetter in Leipzig in 1900.

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1903

This postcard, said to date from c 1903, is a caricature of the Swiss Admiral Jacques Lebaudy (1868 - 1919).

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1904

The Newspaper Hat design appears as 'Sombrero del Tres Picos' (Three Cornered Hat) in 'Guia Practica del Trabajo Manual Educativo' by Ezequiel Solana, which was published by Editorial Magisterio Español in Madrid in 1904.

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1907

The Newspaper Hat appears as 'Montera de periodista' (Journalist's hat) in an article titled 'El trabajo manual escolar' by Vicente Casto Legua in issue 191 of the Spanish magazine 'La Escuela Moderna' for February 1907, which was published in Madrid by Los Sucesores de Hernando.

The notes say, inter alia, that it is called a montera de periodista because, roughly translated, 'it is used by newspaper editors, and under it great and beneficial thoughts germinate as journalism is daily carried out, whose copywriting editors spend their days and nights at the editing table covered with such cheap and simple garments, which they make themselves with the newspapers that cost them so much effort and sacrifices before seeing the public light.'

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1908

This drawing by Ugo Finozzi, titled 'Colonel Scarpelli and his General Staff' was published in the 1908 Christmas album of the Italian (Florentine) children's magazine 'Giornalino della Domenica'

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1909

The Newspaper Hat appears as 'Chapeau de Gendarme' in 'Petit Manuel de Travaux d'Amateurs' by H de Graffigny, which was published by Collection A L Guyot in Paris in 1909. The illustration is odd but the description makes it clear that this design is the Newspaper Hat. The text describes it as, roughly, 'the police hat which is worn by apprentice printers and house painters, the latter with the aim of preventing their heads being splashed when they paint ceilings.'

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1910

As 'A Paper Cap' in 'Handicraft in the School', which was issued in four volumes by Gresham Publishing in London in 1910.

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This Nestle advert is from 1910.

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1913

French patriotic postcard c 1913. Image reproduced from newspaper 'La Patrie'. Illustration by Albert Beerts.

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1914

As 'El sombrero de dos picos' (the two cornered hat) in 'El Trabajo Manual en la Escuela' by Félix Martí Alpera, which was published by Libreria de los Sucesores de Hernando in Madrid in 1914.

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1920

A version of the Newspaper Hat with the sides folded up to improve the shape appeared as 'The Soldier's Hat' in 'Paper Magic' by Will Blyth, which was first published by C Arthur Pearson in London in 1920. This variation is derived from the folding sequence for the Paper Boat. As far as I know this is the first time it appears in the historical record.

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1923

'Falten und Formen mit Papier' by Richard Rothe which was published by Deutscher Verlag für Jugend und Volk in Vienna and Leipzig in 1923, contains an illiustration of 'Nikolomühe' (St Nicholas' hat, bag or mask), which is made by folding in and interlocking the two sides of a Newspaper Hat.

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1930s onwards

In England, Newspaper hats were frequently used as ad hoc sun hats. This became a particular feature of hot days at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships.

Photo from 1949

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Photo from 1953

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Photo of unknown date

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The Newspaper Hat also appeared:

c1929

As 'Sombrero de General' in booklet 1 of 'Trabajos Manuales Salvatella - Plegado de figuras de papel', which were published by Editorial Miguel A Salvatera in Barcelona, pobably in or around 1929.

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1932

As 'A Paper Hat' in 'Winter Nights Entertainments' by R M Abraham, which was first published by Constable and Constable in London in 1932

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1936

In 'Faltarbeiten aus Papier 1' (Paperfolding Work) by Georg Netzband, which was published by W Kohlhammer Verlag in Stuttgart and Berlin in 1936 as a handbook to accompany educational film F57.

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As 'Helm' in 'Allerlei Papierarbeiten' by Hilde Wulff and Carola Babick, which was published in Leipzig and Berlin in 1936.

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1939

In 'El Mundo de Papel' by Dr Nemesio Montero, which was published by G Miranda in Edicions Infancia in Valladolid in 1939.

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1939

As 'A Yankee Doodle Hat' in 'Fun with Paper' by Joseph Leeming, which was published by Spencer Press Inc in Chicago in 1939.

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1910

As 'Paper Cap' in 'Educational Handwork' by T B Kidner, which was published by The Educational Book Company Limited in Toronto in 1910. Description only, no illustration.

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1940

As 'Montera' in 'El Plegado y Cartonaje en la Escuela Primaria' by Antonio M Luchia and Corina Luciani de Luchia, which was published by Editorial Kapelusz in Buenos Aires in 1940.

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1948

As the 'Dutch Hat' in 'The Art of Chinese Paper folding for Young and Old' by Maying Soong, which was published by Harcourt Brace and Company of New York in 1948.

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1951

As 'Caperuza Corriente' (basic hood) in 'Papiroflexia' by Elias Gutierrez Gil, which was self-published in 1951.

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1952

As 'Gorro' in 'Una Hoja de Papel' by Lorenzo Herrero, which was published by Miguel A Salvatella in Barcelona in 1952.

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1963

The Newspaper Hat and several variations appear in the second edition of 'Het Grote Vouwboek' by Aart van Breda, which was published by Uitgeverij van Breda in 1963.

Three-Cornered Hat

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Bishop's Mitre (made by tucking in the edges of the brim)

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Milkmaid's Bonnet

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