To celebrate National Puzzle Day (29 January), I wondered about the history behind jigsaw puzzles. When and how was the first created? I went off to research it!
Do You Know The History Behind Jigsaw Puzzles?
Why Are Puzzles Good For You?
Puzzles are good for the brain! Crossword puzzles, Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles are just some of the more popular puzzles we all engage in. According to the Baylor College of Medicine:
Studies have shown that doing jigsaw puzzles can improve cognition and visual-spatial reasoning. The act of putting the pieces of a puzzle together requires concentration and improves short-term memory and problem solving.
The First Jigsaw Puzzle
John Spilsbury (1739-1969) is said to be the originator of the jigsaw puzzle. He was an English cartographer and map maker. He produced the first jigsaw puzzle in 1766. Created as an educational aid, he glued a world map to some wood and carved out each country using a marquetry saw. These were known as ‘dissected maps’ and their popularity grew. Gradually more people made them and they became more widely available. Of course today the sale in jigsaw puzzles has boomed, not least because of the pandemic and lock downs.
Jigsaw puzzles have come a long way since those first hand made ones. These days you can get them in virtually any subject, various sizes and even 3-D versions.
Are You A Dissectologist?
My Mum loves jigsaw puzzles! She will be surprised to learn she is a ‘dissectologist’, someone who puts together jigsaw puzzles. The word comes from the original ‘dissected maps’. I really enjoy helping my Mum put her puzzles together when I visit her in England. She likes the really complicated ones that take her ages. A 1,000 piece jigsaw is about the right size for her kitchen table. In the winter months there is always one being completed. She now has several of my own jigsaw puzzle designs including the one above. She has a friend who also enjoys them and they swap as they finish them.
Of course, National Puzzle Day celebrates more than just jigsaw puzzles. Let’s not forget Sudoku and crosswords. Well, actually let’s forget Sudoku as I have tried to get into the numbers thing many times and failed miserably. It is not how my brain works. But Barnet Boy and I do a crossword every night after dinner and have great fun doing so.
Where You Can Buy My Jigsaw Puzzles
I have a very large range of jigsaw puzzles available at my Pictorem store with free shipping in North America.
Just over 250 jigsaw puzzles are available from my RedBubble store with world wide shipping.
Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
You can follow me on Facebook.
Thank you for reading!
Surely I didn’t know but historical things like this are pretty interesting..
I had no idea about the history of puzzles. That’s very cool to learn! 🙂 I don’t do puzzles very often, but I do enjoy them.
Glad you found it interesting Alison. Thank you for your comment.
Glad you found it interesting Gabi. Thanks for the comment.
I love playing jigsaw puzzle. They are good to exer you’re brain. But I never knew the history of jigsaw puzzle. Thank you for sharing. I learned something from reading this post.
Glad you learned something Fadima, I didn’t know until I researched it. Thank you for your comment.
I had no idea that the origins were as far back as 1766 — that’s incredible! Thank you for sharing this, I will appreciate the jigsaw puzzles I do more from now on.
Fun blog post, Dorothy. And you brave thing, trying Sudoku! I wouldn’t even go there….the thought gives me indigestion, but I do like a good jigsaw puzzle and now I know where the name came from!
I tried really hard with Sudoku, my brain would keep going to jelly! Thanks for commenting Mary
It was an interesting fact. Thanks for commenting Molly