CLEMENS' MAP OF NEW YORK

Clayville, N.Y.: E.J. Clemens, [ca. 1882].. Seventy wooden puzzle pieces, completed size 12 x 16 inches. Evenly toned, scattered stains, light edge wear to most pieces. Printed image beginning to peel at the edges of some pieces, more severe on verso of pieces. Good plus, in a later fitted wooden case with latch (lacking the original box). A detailed dissected sectional map of New York State, with each county forming its own puzzle piece. The map is one prepared by G.W. & C.B. Colton based on previous maps published by their predecessor, Joseph H. Colton. It depicts the State of New York delineated by county, with towns, cities, railroads, canals, and some topographical details marked, as well as insets of New York City and Niagara Falls. The publisher of the puzzle, Rev. E.J. Clemens of the small town of Clayville, New York (south of Utica), produced numerous such dissected puzzles of the country and its states in the late-19th century under the banner of "Clemens' Silent Teacher," with an aim to help children learn geography. He also had an aim to run advertisements - several editions of this and other Clemens puzzles were printed advertising different products on the reverse. The reverse of this copy prints an ad for Sherwin-Williams Paint, including an illustration of their factory and offices in Cleveland as well as insets of their Chicago office on Jackson Street, and their New York office on Fulton Street. A rare and detailed early American jigsaw puzzle. PHILLIPS, MAPS, p. 517. OCLC 907446042 (another ed). (Inventory #: WRCAM57702)