The Never Ending Fun Of Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles first came to life as educational tools, although they were not called by that name until the late 1800s. The first puzzles were probably made by a London man named John Spilsbury in the mid-1700s. Spilsbury was a mapmaker and an engraver, and had the idea to put one of his maps onto a piece of board, and cut out the countries with a saw. From these first simple puzzles descended all of the jigsaw puzzles, which exist today in an incredible array of shapes, sizes, and designs. To Spilsbury’s credit, there are even puzzles still manufactured almost three hundred years later which teach geography in essentially the same manner that his first puzzles did. Jigsaws have remained a national pastime ever since their inception, retaining their popularity even at the height of the Depression. Cardboard puzzles, which had been introduced in the 1800s, but used primarily for children, made it possible for many families to enjoy jigsaw puzzles even when the budget was extremely limited. One of the excellent qualities of jigsaw puzzles is that, even after they have been completed, they can be put back in the box and shaken up, and they are as good as new again. They can easily be enjoyed by a group or as a solitary pursuit, they can be set aside for days and completed at leisure, they take up very little space when disassembled, and perhaps most importantly of all, they are one of the most inexpensive forms of entertainment around. It is little wonder that jigsaw puzzles have remained popular for as long as they have; it is hard to imagine another type of interactive puzzle, or indeed any other type of interactive entertainment, which could be so absorbing at such a small cost.