The jigsaw-puzzle was invented more than 200 years ago, initially for purely pedagogic reasons. In 1767, in order to familiarize his pupils with the geography of their country, the English teacher, John Spilsbury, cut up a map into several pieces, to be re-assembled again by his protégés. Spilsbury`s idea was successful and was soon copied by teachers teaching other subjects.
With time, the teaching aid turned into a popular sparetime activity. Pictures of idyllic scenes, landscapes and picturesque buildings were glued on wooden boards, which were then sawn into several pieces in order to re-assemble them again. This explains the English name "jigsaw" puzzle! The first puzzles were made of cedar-wood or mahagony. Later on soft woods were used and, finally, plywood.
Not until the 1960's were puzzles made of cardboard produced which are as good a quality as expensive wooden puzzles. This new production method suddenly made it possible to produce puzzles everybody could afford. Many different puzzles began to appear and started what could be called a real puzzle boom. Nowadays millions of pictures are punched into small pieces every year in order to be reassembled again by patient puzzle players. PIATNIK puzzles are made of a special high-quality cardboard and sold worldwide.
Piantnik Puzzles are now a part of the fun at Tuesdays And Thursdays!
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
We love New York,New York - after all it's a city so nice they had to name it twice! New to Tuesdays and Thursdays is the 500 piece New York City Subway map. Created by New Yorkers (Brooklynites actually), the puzzle joins our list of fun gifts celebrating the Big Apple. Find the New York Subway map puzzle, and other great puzzles, at Tuesdays and Thursdays.
