Description
Antique wooden block puzzle with color lithographs of six unnerving exotic scenes, c. mid-nineteenth century. A strange beast attacks a campsite. A tiger attacks an elephant caravan. A snake attacks a tiger. Threats abound on every side. Meant for children, the puzzle is most puzzling for the graphic scene of men clubbing seals in the Arctic. At the time, sealskin was commonly used in clothing and hats, and to the contemporary eye the illustration may have represented laudable, even desirable work at the icy edge of civilization. The puzzle is the earliest one I’ve come upon and certainly the most vivid.
Condition
Well-played with some discoloration and fade to paper and worn edges.
Measurements
7 inches long
Shipping
Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.
