A rare survivor this dissected puzzle complete with just one small piece replaced, in its original mahogany box with the makers label.The first dissected puzzles were only introduced in the UK in the 1760's so this is one of the earlier dissected puzzles.
The label says "England and Wales accurately delineated from the latest survey by Thomas Kitchen hydrographer to his majesty. Published May 7th 1783 as the act directed by the proprietor John Hallis at his map warehouse Ludgate Street London. NB the figures at the principal towns & co denote their distance from the metropolis.
A real piece of history.
The box measures 18.5cm w x 20cm d x 8cm h
Dissected puzzles better known as jigsaws these days, (only called this after the jigsaw tool had been invented in the 19th century),, but when they were first introduced into the UK around the 1760's these puzzles were cut and often coloured by hand from wood like mahogany, a timely and difficult process. Hence the royals, the rich and elite boarding schools were the only ones which could really afford these puzzles. In the main they were used as an educational tool. Later puzzles were backed on to card and became more intricately shaped with pieces that interlocked when the jigsaw tool was introduced. They also became cheaper and more affordable to the mass market in the late 19th and early 20th century