The 1951 yellow crossroads folder consists of 8 panels on each side of a large sheet--each panel is about 10 x 10 inches. These are found in 2 different styles according to how the panels are arranged and how the large sheet is folded to get the final closed folder.

Let's look at the layout of what I will call Style A first. We start with the unfolded sheet showing all 8 panels which are numbered. Note that panels 1 and 2 are yellow, with panel 2 being the cover of the closed folder. The problem is to fold the sheet to end up with panel 2 as cover and panel 1 as the reverse. Here's how it's done.

We start with the open folder arranged as follows.

Now fold top half back along the line separating the top 4 panels from the lower 4.

Now fold along line separating panels 2 and 3.

Finally fold along line between panels 1 and 2 to get final arrangement.

Let's look at the layout of what I will call Style B now. We start with the arrangement we get by moving the bottom row of panels so that each panel moves one space to the right--the end panel will be moved to the beginning position and we end up with the pattern shown below. Note that there is no change in panels on reverse side--these are same in both Styles.

Now fold top half back along the line separating the top 4 panels from the lower 4.

Now fold along line separating panels 4 and 1 and 2 and 3.

Finally fold along line between panels 1 and 2 to get final arrangement.

I have presently on hand a total of eight of these folders. The five with 1951 copyright are all 514-2 Style A. For the two with 1950 copyright, one is 514-1 Style A and one is 514-1 Style B. The last example is 514-3 Style B with no copyright date--this last one is the "smaller size" with dimensions 10 x 9 1/2 inches rather than 10 x 10 inches. The smaller version could have arizen in at least two ways. Someone could have merely carefully trimmed the 1/2 inch border from a Style B (this would eliminate the copyright date since it appears in this border area on backside). This doesn't seem likely as the smaller size is not terribly rare as far as I know. Note that trimming a Style A could also give the smaller size, but I don't have such an example. The second explanation is the border area was not part of original printing. I have heard from a fellow collector who has identified his folder as 514-2 Style B.

Take a look at any of these folders in your collection and let me know which type you have.