The very first jigsaw puzzle is said to have been made by London mapmaker John Spilsbury in the 1760s.

When did puzzles get invented?

John Spilsbury, an engraver and mapmaker, is credited with inventing the first jigsaw puzzle in 1767. The dissected map has been a successful educational toy ever since.

When did puzzles become popular?

It was around the mid 1800's that jigsaw puzzles started to become popular with adults as well as children. This can be seen in a puzzle called the Star of the West which depicted an adult and horse scene, clearly aimed at adults. But at the end of the 1800's is when jigsaws went through rapid growth.