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Created 21/4/2022. Last updated 23/3/2026

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The USA version of Reader's Digest magazine of August 1970 published an article entitled 'Paper Magic of Origami' which was 'condensed' from a similar article in 'Beacon Magazine of Hawaii'. In November 1970 a similar article was published in the December 1970 issue of the French version of Reader's Digest, 'Selection du Reader's Digest'.

My thanks to Juan Gimeno for sharing his copy of this article with me.

In this French version the article is accompanied by additional information about origami in France in a box headed 'L'origami en France'. Note, however, that the name 'Jean-Claude Meunier' given here is an error for 'Jean-Charles Meunier'. My thanks to Michel Grand for pointing this out. Carlos Corda is better known in paperfolding circles as Adolfo Cerceda.

For more details about the TV programmes mentioned here see French TV Programs made by Jean-Charles Meunier and Carlos Corda.

This says, roughly translated:

'It was a former professor of psychology at Harvard University, M S Legman, now based in Valbonne (Alpes-Maritimes) who knew about the works of Akira Yoshizawa. In 1954 he brought together, in a small gallery at Cagnes-sur Mer, some 300 works by the Japanese master, which was the first exhibition in the West.

In search of a wider audience, a young filmmaker, M Jean-Claude Meunier, decided last year to produce a series of 13 programs for television devoted to the practice of origami. Thanks to his initiative, during the 1970 Mardi Gras holidays, viewers were able to follow, every day for six minutes, the different stages of a folding presented by the Argentinian Carlos Corda, a great paperfolder.

The success was immediate. 200 letters received, two of which were signed by a whole class of schoolchildren. Most correspondents were educators curious to know more about Japanese art. Carlos Corda and J-C Meunier got back to work. The first shapes his little wonders in the paper while the second films over his shoulder. A new series of 13 programs of nine minutes each will be broadcast during the Christmas holidays.

Finally, they will publish at the beginning of next year a book, 'L'Art du Pliage', which will be the first real treatise on origami published in France.'

Note that the book 'L'Art du Pliage' does not appear to have ever been published.

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