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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1914

Diagrams for this design, titled 'Lotus', 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 Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1878

A drawing of the Lotus 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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1885

A drawing of the Lotus appears in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro, which was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885).

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1894

Diagrams for the Lotus, under the name 'Renge' (lotus flower) appear in issue 16 of the Japanese children's magazine 'Shokokumin' in 1894.

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The same design is mentioned, again as 'Renge', but not illustrated in an article in issue 21 of the same magazine in the same year.

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1903

Diagrams for the Lotus appear in 'Jinjo Kouto Shogaku Shuko Seisakuzu' (Handicrafts for ordinary higher elementary schools) by Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Rokushiro Uehara in Tokyo in 1903.

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1905

Diagrams also appear in 'Shukouka Kyohon : Liron Jishuu Souga Setsumei' by Kikujiro Kiuchi, Rokushiro Uehara and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Shigebei Takase in Chiba in 1905.

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A drawing of the design also appears in 'Shukoka Kyoju Saian' by Gentaro Tanahashi and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Hobunkan in Tokyo in 1905.

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1907

Diagrams also appear in 'Shukou Tebikigusa : Kokumin Kyoiku Origami Yuihimo' by Ishin Nishigaki, which was published by Meguro Shoten in Nagaoka in 1907.

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1908

Diagrams also appear in 'Origami zusetsu' (Illustrated Origami) by Sano Shozo, which was published in Tokyo in 1908.

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1912

A drawing of the Lotus appears in a monozukushi-e print, by an unknown artist, but said to be from the Meiji era. I have temporarily assigned it the date of 1912, the last year of that era, pending the discovery of more accurate information.

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1927

A drawing of the Lotus appears in an illustration by Takei Takeo in a 1927 issue of the children's magazine 'Kodomo No Kuni' (The Land of Children).

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This design also appears:

1959

As 'A Lotus Flower' in 'Pocket Guide to Origami: Bow-Wow Book', by Isao Honda, which was published by the Asahi Origami Club, Tokyo in 1959.

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1965

As 'Lotus Blossom', in 'The World of Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published in the USA by Japan Publications Trading Company in 1965.

The Independent Creativity chapter mentions that it is possible to create a 'Rose' by placing one Lotus blossom inside another, the inner blossom being folded from a smaller shert of paper.

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In Western Europe and the Americas

1876

The Lotus appears as a napkin fold 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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c1900

An article by Alber-Graves explaining how to fold the Lotus appeared in the French children's magazine 'Mon Journal' in or around 1900. I have not been able to locate the article but there are references to it in two other articles by the same author in the same magazine.

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1908

The design appears as 'Fleur de lotus' in 'Les Petits Secrets Amusants' by Alber-Graves, which was published by Librairie Hachette in Paris in 1908.

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1921

The Catholic magazine 'La Vie en Patronage' of 1st January 1921 contained an article by Alber explaining how to fold the Lotus.

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1958

The 1958 Rupert Annual contained instructions for folding 'Rupert's Paper Frog and Water-Lily'

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1964

This design also appears, as 'The Water Lily', in 'Secrets of Origami', by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne Book Company in London in 1964, where itt is said to be Japanese.

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1968

The design also appears, as 'Lotus Flower', in 'Your Book of Paperfolding' by Vanessa and Eric de Maré, which was published by Faber and Faber in London in 1968, where it was is to be a traditional Japanese design.

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