Norman Rockwell Collection: "The Muscleman" - 500 pc Jigsaw Puzzle in a Tin Box
Circa 1765 the first jigsaw was made by a mapmaker in London. He mounted his maps to wood and cut the countries into "pieces" using a fine saw. The puzzles were used as teaching aides for children in England. These aides soon caught on with adults and became a form of entertainment for people all around Europe, including Queen Victoria.The jigsaw evolved into a more economical hobby in the 1800's when puzzle makers began to mount their images to cardboard. This led to the boom of the puzzle industry around 1909. The peak of the puzzle industry was during the Great Depression but is still a passion of many adults even today.