The puzzle is one of the oldest forms of entertainment, dating back to the late 18th century. The puzzle has gone through many stages of development to become today’s modern hobby. Puzzles have a variety of uses, from entertainment to education to physical and emotional therapy.

A start as an educational tool The forerunner of the modern puzzle was invented in 1767 by John Spilsbury as a teaching device to help children learn the geography of England and Wales. It was a wooden map with no interlocking pieces. In fact, interlocking pieces were not introduced to jigsaws until much later, with the invention of saws that could cut with the precision necessary to produce the interlock. From this inauspicious beginning to the 19th century, puzzles became popular and grew as a popular hobby.

Jigsaw Puzzles – The New Favorite Parlor Game In the early 1900s, jigsaw puzzles became popular with adults in both the US and the UK. Due to the cost of producing these wooden puzzles, they were mainly the domain of the wealthy, and puzzles began to rival bridge and lawn bowls as parlor games. As puzzles grew, major game manufacturers including Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley began producing puzzles.

Introduction of molded and interlocking parts The popularity of jigsaw puzzles in the early 1900s led Parker Brothers to begin developing puzzles with interlocking and shaped pieces. Also around this time, cardboard puzzles began to be produced by die-cutting. Most manufacturers, however, stuck to making wooden puzzles, as the general belief was that there was no market for cheap cardboard puzzles.

Growth of puzzles in the depression era With the advent of the Great Depression, the demand for inexpensive cardboard die-cut puzzles exploded. Families found the puzzle to be not only entertaining, but also a great distraction from the stresses of life. Also, once completed, a puzzle could be traded with a friend, continuing the trend of inexpensive entertainment.

An advertising boost At this time, companies also began using puzzles for promotional giveaways, with many stores offering a puzzle with a purchase. At the height of the depression, in the early 1930s, the “Jig of the Week” was introduced and sold at newsstands. Several series became available and being the first to put together that week’s puzzle resulted in bragging rights for the solver. Economic troubles and the rise in popularity of inexpensive puzzles affected wooden puzzle makers, although some retained a loyal following.

Introduction of the custom puzzle During the cardboard puzzle boom, a new manufacturer, Par Puzzles, became popular. These finely hand-cut puzzles were produced by brothers who catered to the wealthy, including movie stars and royalty. Par’s claim to fame was personalized puzzles, often cut out with their owners’ names as pieces.

puzzle today Since the height of popularity during the depression, the fascination with the puzzle has come and gone. After World War II, increased wages resulted in higher cost and lower sales of wooden puzzles. At the same time, improvements in fine art printing and reproduction on puzzles resulted in increased sales of cardboard puzzles. Today most puzzles are made of cardboard, but there are a handful of manufacturers that still make high-quality wooden puzzles. A variety of puzzles are now available, from irregularly shaped puzzles to double-sided puzzles to 3D puzzles. They continue to fascinate us and provide a way to unite people with the common goal of being the one to put that last piece on.