Of the various jigsaw puzzle sizes, the 1000 piece size puzzles are by far the most popular. Earlier on, before machines could consistently press out thousands of identical, high quality jigsaw puzzles, handmade puzzles were the only option. Given the difficulty of manipulating an actual jigsaw, the pieces which resulted were large, unevenly shaped, and would have lacked any shape consistency. Due to the sawing process a great deal of sawdust would have been produced leaving pieces that did not fit very tightly and a picture that would have had details missing. It would have also been all but impossible to ensure a repeating number of pieces in any puzzle.The hobby has persisted for almost three hundred years and was essentially discovered serendipitously by Jon Spilsbury in London. It would be completely impossible to make puzzles with the quality and size of the pieces we have today without the aid of serious machines such as precision cut dyes and presses that can exert up to two hundred tons of pressure. Puzzle board is made of superior quality paper sheets that have been compressed under high pressure resulting in a dense and even quality board throughout. Obviousy taking the step from producing hand sawn wooden puzzles to the machine stamped high precision puzzles required a significant advancement in technology. Not until the 20th century was such an product available to a newly emerging consumer class with enough disposible income to be able to afford a (much less costly) pastime.A 1000 piece puzzle typically measures 68 x 49 cms. when complete.
Gibsons jigsaws have developed a special niche within the jigsaw puzzle market place. They often employ the same well known craftsmen over and over such as Terry Harrison, Trevor Mitchell and Kevin Walsh who specialise in British scenes more often than not from the last century usually through to the early sixties. They possess skills for dress and design but moreover have an unerring ability in rendering cars, buses, trains and boats and indeed different beguilements and excitements; indeed ice cream sellers who carried their sweets in a refrigerated box strapped onto a three wheel bike. There's no end to what they take note of and put into their astounding pictures. All these points of interest bring back upbeat recollections. More as of late Steve Noon, Steve Crisp and Tony Ryan have employed their charming skills in painting specific fashions and ambient information to their phenomenal puzzles. Of course someone like Mike Jupp, who could be a master of joyous disaster, when it comes to the British public having fun, is in a league all by himself. Mike’s puzzles are very interesting and are a hallmark of an artist who has sold over a million puzzles through the Gibsons catalogue.
After Mike Jupp's vast selection, the next largest group of puzzles are Christmas jigsaw puzzles. Every year Marcello Conti adds a new limited edition puzzle to the 1000 piece range which is only available from Gibsons. At the same time Gibsons add several Christmas puzzles from other artists. The Gibsons Christmas puzzles are unique and successfully bring together a variety of activities all centered around the good feeling Christmas brings to one and all. It might be a family outing to a local shop to purchase last minute presents or Christmas carol singers gathered round a warm and glowing bonfire singing the season's favourite tunes. There will often be a group of youngsters building a snowman using the usual extras for the snowman's features such as an orange carrot for his nose or small pieces of coal (no more alas) for his eyes and smile. Keeping out the cold you will surely see mulled wine on offer at one if the many outdoor stalls especially erected just for the season.
No matter the season or your mood, Gibsons is bound to have a puzzle that will cater to whichever memory you are looking to experience all over again.
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