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Last updated 24/3/2025

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The Paper Cup is sometimes presented as a paper hat.

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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1934

The Paper Cup design appears as 'A Paper Wine Glass' in 'Zhezhi Xinfa' (New Ways to Fold Paper), which was published by The Commercial Press in China in 1934.

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In Japan (and publications by Japanese authors)

1944

The Paper Cup design appears in 'Origami Shuko' by Isao Honda, which was published in 1944.

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The Paper Cup also appears:

1957

In 'Origami: Book One' by Florence Sakade, which was published by the Charles E Tuttle Company in Rutland, Vermont and Tokyo in 1957.

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1959

In 'How to Make Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Shuppan Co. Ltd in Japan. by McDowell Obolensky of New York in the USA and by Museum Press Ltd of London in England, in 1959.

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1960

As 'A Paper Cup' in 'All About Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Bunka Company, Limited in Tokyo in 1960.

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1965

As 'Cup' in 'The World of Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published in the USA by Japan Publications Trading Company in 1965, together with a version called 'Basket'in which in which a cut is used to create the handle.

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In Europe and the Americas

1887

There is mention of 'paper in the form of a drinking-cup' on page 133 of T T Tiimayensis' 'A History of the Art of Magic', which was published by J J Little and Co in New York in 1887, but, unfortunately, lacking an illustration, it is impossible to be completely sure that this is a reference to the Paper Cup design.

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1910

As far as I am aware the first illustration of the Paper Cup in the historical record is in Part 2 'Das Flechten' of 'Die Frobelschen Beschaftigungen' by Marie Muller-Wunderlich, which was published by Friedrich Brandstetter in Leipzig in 1910.

A second version of what is effectively the same design appears in the same book as 'Die Wandtasche' (the wall pocket).

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1911

The design appeared as both a cup and a hat in 'Häusliche Kleinkunst und Bastelarbeit in Wort und Bild' by Hermann Pfeiffer, which was published by Verlag von Hermann Zieger in Leipzig in 1911.

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Popular Mechanics Magazine of April 1911 contained a reader's letter giving instructions for making the Paper Cup. Information from José Tomas Buitrago.

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1913

A similar letter appeared in Popular Mechanics Magazine for Feb 1913. Information from José Tomas Buitrago.

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1914

Diagrams for the Paper Cup appeared in Popular Mechanics Magazine for May 1914 as a way of 'Starting garden Plants'. . Information from José Tomas Buitrago.

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1915

'Occupational Therapy: A Manual for Nurses' by William Rush Dunton, which was published by the W B Saunders Company in Philadelphia and London in 1915, contains instructions for folding the Paper Cup.

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The design also appears as:

1918

As 'El vaso' in 'Ciencia Recreativa' by Jose Estralella, which was published by Gustavo Gili in Barcelona in 1918.

This book also includes an illustration showing how the Paper Cup can be used as a hanging container to boil water in.

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As 'un vaso de papel' in an article in 'Los Muchachos' of 26th May 1918.

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1923

Diagrams for the paper cup under the title of 'Trinkbecher, (Drinking Cup) appear in 'Falten und Formen mit Papier' by Richard Rothe which was published by Deutscher Verlag für Jugend und Volk in Vienna and Leipzig in 1923.

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1924

The Paper Cup also appears in the book 'Jouxjoux en Papier' by Tom Tit (real name Arthur Good), published in Paris by Paul Lechevalier in 1924, under the title 'Le Gobelet de Voyage'.

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The design also appears:

1928

As 'The Drinking Cup' in 'Fun with Paper Folding', by Murray and Rigney, published by the Fleming H Revell Company, New York in 1928. In this version only one top flap is folded down, so that the outline of the finished design is pentagonal. The author suggests that the reader might 'Make large enough and turn in the (other) point ... and you will have a paper hat.'

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1932

As 'A Paper Drinking Cup' in 'Winter Nights Entertainment' by R M Abrahams, which was published by Constable and Constable in 1932.

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As 'La Timbale de Voyage' in Booklet 1 of 'Images a Plier', a series of 6 booklets published by Librairie Larousse in Paris in 1932.

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As 'Vaso de agua' in Booklet 3 of 'Figuras de Papel', a series of 3 booklets published by B Bauza in Barcelona in 1932.

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1933

As 'Gobelet' in 'Jeux de pliages' by Ferdinand Krch, which was published by Flammarion in Paris in 1933.

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1936

As 'Fangballbecher' (Catch Ball Cup) in 'Allerlei Papierarbeiten' by Hilde Wulff and Carola Babick, which was published in Leipzig and Berlin in 1936.

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As 'A Perfect Paper Cup' in 'More Things Any Boy Can Make' by Joseph Leeming, which was published by D Appleton-Century Company in New York and London in 1936.

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1937

As the 'Drinking-Cup' in Margaret Campbell's 'Paper Toy Making', which was first published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd in London, probably in 1937, although both the Foreword and Preface are dated 1936, which argues that the book was complete at that date.

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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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As 'A Useful Drinking Cup' in 'Fun with Paper' by Joseph Leeming, which was published by Spencer Press Inc in Chicago in 1939.

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1940

As 'Vasito' (Glass) 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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1941

As 'El Vaso' in 'Papiro-Zoo: Manual practico de cocotologia o papirologia' by Giordano Lareo, which was published by Larco in Buenos Aires in 1941.

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1945

In Popular Mechanics Magazine for September 1945. Information from José Tomas Buitrago.

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c1940s

This foldable template for a Paper Cup was distributed by the Department of Health of the Government of Palestine during the British Mandate and was intended to help avoid the sharing of drinking cups at public water sources. It is undated but probably from the late 1940s. Information from Idan Friedman.

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The design also appears:

1948

As the 'Paper Cup' 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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1949

As 'La Timbale' in 'Au Pays des Mains Agiles', which was published by Editions Fleurus in Paris in 1949.

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1950

In 'Holiday Craft and Fun' by Joseph Leeming, which was published by J B Lipincott Company in Philadelphia and New York in 1950.

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1951

As 'El Vaso' in 'Papiroflexia' by Elias Gutierrez Gil, which was self-published in 1951. (The drawings are strangely distorted)

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1952

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

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1959

In 'Fun-time Paper Folding' by Elinor Tripato Massoglio, which was published by Childrens Press in Chicago in 1959 (and is said to be a book of designs from Japan).

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1960

As 'Cup' in 'Origami: The Oriental Art of Paper Folding' by Harry C Helfman, which was published by Platt and Munk Co Inc in New York in 1960.

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1961

As 'Turkenfez' in 'Wir Falten' by Joachim Schönherr and Gerta Schumann, which was published by Rudolf Arnold Verlag in Leipzig in 1961.

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1963

As 'Beaker' in the second edition of 'Het Grote Vouwboek' by Aart van Breda, which was published by Uitgeverij van Breda in 1963.

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As 'The Paper Cup' in 'Fell's Guide to Papercraft: Tricks, Games and Puzzles' by Walter B Gibson, which was published by Frederick Fell Inc in New York and George McLeod Ltd in Toronto in 1963.

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