John Spilsbury, a young London map maker, appears to have invented the jigsaw puzzle around 1760.
They were originally marketed as educational tools to facilitate the teaching of geography to children. In the 230 years hence, puzzles have been used for advertising and entertainment. They have been made from hardwoods, cardboard, and even chocolate! They have contained as many as 50,000 pieces and been made so small they've been sold with a pair of tweezers.
Puzzle proliferation peaked during the Depression, to the tune of 100 million sold in seven months. They have remained popular ever since and have depicted people, places, history, nature, and art. Animal vegetable, or mineral - it doesn't matter. It's been on a puzzle at one time or another.
