Who invented the puzzle game?

Among other things, today we get to the bottom of this exciting question about the history of the puzzle.

As early as 1766, the Englishman John Spilsbury is said to have invented the first puzzle or laying game. His idea was to saw a geographical map made of thin wood along the borders of the respective counties. By putting the individual pieces together correctly, children were taught about geography.

However, the principle of the laying games exists for a very long time: Already in ancient Greece there were patience games, so-called Tangram or Stomachion. The goal here was to put together polygonal pieces - similar to a mosaic - to form a square.

Thus, it is debatable whether Spilsbury is the true inventor or not. What is certain, however, is that he was the first to make money with it. ;)

European revolution - also in the world of puzzles

Although the puzzles, which were still not mass-produced, have now reached Germany and the Netherlands, maps were still popular.

Over the years, however, the motifs changed: at the beginning of the 19th century, contemporary, classical art was in vogue in Germany. In the course of the European Revolution, from the year 1845, more and more jigsaw puzzles feature military motifs. But such cruel motifs were fortunately replaced only a few years later by images of playing children or farms.

Towards the end of the 19th century, for reasons of cost, puzzles were first made of plywood boards, and later of solid cardboard. At last, jigsaw puzzles were cheap to buy, which made them across Europe more and more people enthusiastic about this trend.

The modern mass product from cardboard

From the beginning of the 20th century, jigsaw puzzles become widespread due to the mechanized production of sawing machines. The well-known entertainment game triggers a real puzzle mania after the First World War, especially in England and America. Many citizens lose their jobs due to the war and now have enough time to devote to the puzzle.

Due to high demand, modern die-cutting machines soon replaced sawing machines to produce the cardboard, which is now the standard material, into large and individual puzzles.

Thanks to the latest technologies and trends, puzzles are still gaining appeal today - even after more than 250 years!