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Last updated 23/12/2025

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'Paper Tricks' by Will Goldstone was published in London by Will Goldston Limited. The work is undated but is believed to have first appeared in 1919 (see below).

The work contains various stunts and magical effects using paper. Those few that make substantive use of folding (and mostly also of cuts) are detailed below. A novel element of this work is that many of the designs are made from several superimposed sheets of torn or cut paper to enhance their visual effect.

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This work is mentioned in Gershon Legman's 'Bibliography of Paperfolding' which was published in 1952.

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Note that the Hats on pages 82 to 86 are not made by paperfolding.

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Analysis

The Mysterious Cut - How to Climb Through a Playing Card

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The Paper Face - Abd-el-Krim

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The Ship's Wheel

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The Onion Bag - The Paper Cage

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The Afghan Bands

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Jacob's Ladder - The Newspaper Ladder

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The Fir Tree and The Twin Fir Trees - The Newspaper Tree

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The following designs appear in a section of the work entitled Novel Designs in Paper Tearing. For a full understanding of the nature of the designs reference should be made to the full text of this section which is reproduced at the foot of this page.

The Chequerboard

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Paper Friezes

Some of these friezes are made from multiple sheets of paper

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Paper Lattices

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Designs with Bilateral Symmetry

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Designs with 8-Fold Rotational Symmetry

The method of obtaining these designs is not described in the text

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Novel Designs in Paper Tearing

Many of the designs in this section are made from several superimposed sheets of paper to enhance their visual effect.

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