North America in its Principal Divisions, by John Spilsbury, 1767 puzzle © MicroPuzzles.
Rachel and Michael (and MicroPuzzles) own one of the earliest examples of jigsaw puzzles in existence. It's an original John Spilsbury in amazing condition - it even has the original box and label. It's available for select private showings or media events - contact us for more information.
About John Spilsbury
John Spilsbury is widely credited as the inventor of the jigsaw puzzle. In the early 1760s, John was a young engraver fresh out of an apprenticeship from Thomas Jefferys, the Royal Geographer to King George III.
North America in its Principal Divisions assembled, by John Spilsbury, 1767 puzzle © MicroPuzzles.
Around 1765, John had the idea of mounting a map on a thin mahogany board and cutting it into pieces along country border lines for children to reassemble. Spilsbury created them for educational purposes and called them "Dissected Maps."
John Spilsbury died, aged 29, on April 3rd, 1769. But others took up his idea, and by 1909 dissected maps became more widely known as a jigsaw puzzle.
North America in its Principal Divisions collage featuring dated key piece, by John Spilsbury, 1767 puzzle © MicroPuzzles.