Families found solace in assembling puzzles together, providing both a distraction from economic hardships and a sense of accomplishment when completing a puzzle. The Great Depression of the 1930s saw a surge in the popularity of jigsaw puzzles as a cost-effective form of entertainment. Companies like Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley played pivotal roles in the commercialization and mass production of jigsaw puzzles. They became more affordable, and their themes ranged from fine art and literature to popular culture. The saw's blade reminded people of the fine-toothed blades used in the treadle jigsaw, leading to the adoption of the term "jigsaw puzzle."ĭuring the late 19th and early 20th centuries, jigsaw puzzles gained popularity as a family pastime and educational tool. In the late 19th century, puzzles were crafted using a treadle saw, which had a thin blade and could cut intricate shapes. The term "jigsaw puzzle" itself has an interesting origin. By the early 19th century, puzzles were becoming more widely available, with advancements in printing technology allowing for more intricate designs and mass production. The popularity of dissected maps grew, and over time, puzzle makers began to create puzzles featuring various images and themes, expanding beyond geography. These early puzzles were known as "dissected maps" and were primarily used to teach geography to children in England. The origins of the jigsaw puzzle can be traced to maps, which were mounted on wood and then cut into small, irregularly shaped pieces as a teaching tool in the 1760s. The history of jigsaw puzzles dates back to the 18th century, and their evolution has been a fascinating journey through art, education, and entertainment. Some of them, when we are speaking about the largest offline puzzles, have more than 51,000 pieces. The number of jigsaw puzzle pieces can be different.
The rules of the game are quite simple: you need to put together often irregularly shaped interconnected puzzle pieces that have part of the image, to end up with a complete picture. Jigsaw puzzles online are very popular among adult people of different ages.