A (Jigsaw) Puzzling Hobby Trivia Quiz

Answer:

In 1760 AD, John Spilsbury created the puzzle as an educational tool for children to learn geography. He pasted one of his engraved maps onto a thin mahogany board and then used a fine-bladed saw to carefully cut along the borders of countries or counties. He referred to his invention as "Dissected Maps". He offered a catalog of over two dozen of these maps. These included the entire world, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

As the purpose of the puzzles shifted from purely educational tools (maps, alphabets, biblical scenes) to general entertainment with more non-geographical shapes and patterns, a more generic name was needed. The earlier puzzles were cut with a tool called a fretsaw but, because "fret" meant worry, a sister tool called a jigsaw was chosen for the name of the puzzle. At first, these puzzles were purchased mainly by wealthier clientele. This is because each puzzle was hand-crafted and was labor-intensive and time-consuming. The wood was also expensive which gave the puzzles a high price point. During the Victorian era, owning these elaborate, finely crafted wooden puzzles became a status symbol and parlor game.

In the late 1800s, jigsaw puzzles underwent significant transformations, evolving from highly expensive, niche educational tools for the wealthy into a form of general entertainment that started to appeal to the middle class. The subjects moved beyond geography to animals and biblical stories as well as famous art works and landscapes from around the world. The invention of plywood made the raw material cheaper.

In the 1920s and 1930s, it became very popular for companies to advertise via jigsaw puzzles. Travel companies were among the first to use them. For instance, in the 1920s, the Great Western Railway created puzzles featuring images of their steam engines. In 1932, the Prophylactic Brush Company offered a free 50-piece puzzle with the purchase of a toothbrush and sales skyrocketed. The Great Depression caused an unprecedented boom in the popularity of jigsaw puzzles. The use of cardboard and mass production techniques gave families a cheap form of long-lasting entertainment and psychological escape from the grim realities of the time.

Jigsaw puzzles have stayed a very popular game. The year 2020 saw a massive, unexpected resurgence in popularity as people globally sought screen-free activities and indoor hobbies during pandemic lockdowns. Sales skyrocketed, with some major manufacturers reporting sales increases of up to 300%. As of 2025, in terms of sales volume, it is estimated that over 1.8 billion jigsaw puzzles are sold annually in the U.S. In 2002, a National Puzzle Day was created in 2002 by Jodi Jill, a syndicated newspaper puzzle maker and professional quiz maker, to share her enjoyment of puzzles with others. It is celebrated on January 29th each year.

Puzzles have been proven to be beneficial for the brain and brain health. Not only can they increase mood, but they also improve mental reasoning and spatial awareness, enhance short-term memory and help with problem-solving. They can even lower stress levels and provide the brain with a mental workout. Besides being good for a person, and fun, they are also great decorations. They can be preserved and hung (with or without frames), placed in glass top tables, or highlighted on easels throughout a residence.