The diabolo was part of a presentation of Chinese culture edited by stenographer in 1811-2 (La Chine en miniature)."Jean-Baptiste Breton de la Martinière (1777-1852)", ChineAncienne.fr. The toy's popularity waxed and waned throughout the 19th century."History of the Diabolo", MuseeDiabolo.fr. Cites: "Diabolo", Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 8, 1911 and Popular Science, Décembre 1955. In 1812 the diabolo "was all the rage"; then it "enjoyed an ephemeral vogue" until it "finally fell into discredit" some time before 1861. Some consider the toy dangerous; injuries and deaths of players and bystanders have been claimed; and Préfet de Police Louis Lépine once outlawed the game in the streets of Paris."History", Diabolart.Free.Fr.
