Early Spring

This huge puzzle is an early Zag-Zaw cut by Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd in London England, around 1910 when it first appeared in their catalogs. It has 144 figure pieces and a very deceptive non-interlocking cut which, along with its great size, makes the puzzle extremely difficult to assemble. Artist is W. S. Coleman. Paper had separated from plywood on 40 pieces leaving a thick cracking glue layer which had to be removed and replaced with liner of equal thickness. Puzzle also needed to be washed, a technique not advisable for amateurs to attempt. Puzzle had been carried from England to Israel by settlers from where we purchased it via the internet.