Kings and Queens of England

John Spilsbury developed the dissected puzzle using maps: the intent was the teaching of geography with the incentive of an element of fun. In 1787 the first historical dissected puzzle was issued: Engravings for teaching the elements of English history and chronology ... was the concept of John Hewlett. The publisher William Darton took up the proposal: 32 monarchs from William I to George II formed the puzzle. Around each portrait were the years of their reign, important figures and events during it. For instance the puzzle piece for James I also includes mention of Guy Fawkes and the uprising, and for George II there is mention of The Young Pretender and the Battle of Culloden, of Commander Anson and his exploits in the South Seas and Admiral Hawke and a sea battle against the French.

Each piece of the puzzle is in the shape of an irregular rectangle; with each piece so very similar in shape the puzzle would be difficult to piece together and so gave a real incentive for the child to learn the order of the monarchy. Children were encouraged to learn the dates of the reign and the important events. These details are in tiny print which would have made this a difficult task.

The puzzle was popular and there were a number of issues with varying imprints. The puzzle has been noted in an advertisement as selling for 5 shillings 'in paper' and 12 shillings 'dissected in a box'. Such prices made them only within the reach of the wealthier middle and upper classes.

A rival publisher John Wallis brought out a similar but far less didactic version of the puzzle in 1788: his Chronological tables of English history ... had less information and this was presented neatly beneath the portrait, making it easier to read.

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