The Jigsaw Puzzle

The earliest "jigsaw" puzzle appears to have been created in the 1760's by a European mapmaker who pasted a map of the world onto wood, and then cut it into pieces around the borders of each country. Intended as an educational tool, the "dissected map" has been a favorite toy of children ever since. Other earlier prototypes of the puzzle may have been the non-interlocking ceramic tiles of Roman courtyards and baths, which depicted gods, people and mythological creatures.

Children's puzzles evolved from stern morality lessons to entertainment, but puzzles for adults have been pure play for the addict. American puzzles for adults first appeared around the end of the 19th century near Boston, and soon a full-blown puzzle mania spread west. These puzzles would truly try the puzzler's skill, patience and sanity: cut exactly along the color lines, the pieces did not interlock, had no transition pieces, and the finished picture did not appear on the box cover. Often the subject remained a mystery until the final piece was put into place!

The invention of the treadle scroll saw (jigsaw) at the end of the 19th century led Charles Jeffreys of Philadelphia to make the first adult jigsaw puzzle in 1898, but most wood puzzles were cut one piece at a time, a labor-intensive process that made the price too high for most average wage-earners. The height of adult jigsaw puzzles' sales took place on Saturday mornings, as wealthy customers flocked to their trusted puzzle store to acquire some to take with them as they ventured to the countryside or resort areas (such as Newport, Rhode Island). The New York Times Magazine in 1908 announced that "the adult jigsaw puzzle was encroaching upon the popularity of bridge as the party game of choice".

Less expensive versions soon made their way onto the market, constructed of cardboard, particularly from Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley. Parker Brothers introduced "figure" pieces, shaped like dogs, birds, or letters of the alphabet, which made assembly a little easier. Their line of puzzles called "Pastimes" introduced the interlocking style which reduced the problem of spilling or losing pieces. These were so successful that Parker Brothers devoted its entire factory production in 1909 to the making of puzzles.

By 1933, with the Depression reducing incomes but increasing the need for amusement and diversion, jigsaw puzzle sales reached 10 million per week. Drugstores and libraries rented puzzles for a few cents, and unemployed carpenters and architects began making them at home to sell for local markets. Weekly jigsaw puzzles appeared on newstands. Nonetheless, more expensive puzzles continued to hold their loyal fans, leading to the birth of Par Puzzles, the "Rolls Royce of jigsaw puzzles". Frank Ware and John Henriques, young and unemployed, cut their first puzzle at the dining room table in 1932. Marketing them to affluent movie stars, industrialists and even royalty, Par specialized in customized puzzles, often cutting the owner's name or birth date as figure pieces. Ware and Henriques also perfected the irregular edge to frustrate traditional puzzlers who tried to start with the corners and edge pieces. They further teased their customers with misleading titles and "par times" that were unattainable for all but the fastest puzzlers.

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