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Last updated 22/8/2025

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This page is being used to collect information about the history of the modular paperfolding design I call The Playing Card Square. 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.

Similarly constructed Playing Card Oblongs are also possible.

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1890

As far as I know this design first appears as 'Le Carre Double' in 'Exercises Methodiques de Travaux Manuels' by Jean Boogaerts, which was published in Belgium and France in 1890.

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These simple two-part modular designs can be combined in various ways, either by simply being slipped inside each other

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or by being threaded onto paper strips, in one or both directions, to create many two

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and three-dimensional forms.

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The work also shows how to make a rectangular version (illustration from Smith)

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The design also appears:

1900

As 'The Doubled Square' in 'Construction Work in Cardboard and Paper' by Robert M Smith, which was published by A Flanagan Co in Chicago in 1900. This work contains the same material relating to this design that had previously appeared in Boogaerts (see entry for 1890).

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1913

In 'Trabajo Manual' by C Champy Alvear, which was published by Cabaut y Cia in Buenos Aires in 1913.

The work also shows how Playing Card Squares and oblongs can be combined to create pot covers, napkin rings etc.

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