Jigsaw Puzzle Trivia

One of the games we played during my puzzle-themed birthday party was Jigsaw Puzzle Trivia. We played it Four Corners style, meaning that each corner of the room was designed A, B, C, or D. After I read each question, everyone had to move to the corner they thought was the right answer. Not only is it fun seeing how everyone answers each question, but it gives the contestants a chance to second-guess their answer and join the majority, intentionally move to an answer no one else has given, or stay with their first guess (usually the correct strategy). Play along below and let me know in the comments how many you got right!

1. When was the first known jigsaw puzzle made?

A. 1766
B. 1801
C. 1860
D. 1906

2. Where were jigsaw puzzles invented?

A. England
B. France
C. United States
D. Germany

3. Jigsaw puzzles originated as educational devices to teach what subject?

A. history
B. etiquette
C. religion
D. geography

4. The name “jigsaw puzzle” was first used in 1906. What were they called before that?

A. partitions
B. enigmas
C. dissections
D. multitudes

5. What is the word for the study of puzzles?

A. Puzzology
B. Enigmatology
C. Fragmology
D. Praxology

6. Approximately how many jigsaw puzzles are sold each year?

A. 1.8 million
B. 180 million
C. 1.8 billion
D. 180 billion

7. The most expensive puzzle ever sold has 467 handcrafted wood pieces. What was its price?

A. $14,000
B. $27,000
C. $39,000
D. $52,000

8. When is International Puzzle Day?

A. January 29

B. April 4

C. July 27

D. November 17

9. The largest commercially available puzzle has 60,000 pieces and is 8x29 feet. Where is it sold?

A. at the Ravensburger factory store

B. exclusively at independent puzzle and game stores

C. online only, through Puzzle.com

D. Costco

10. How many pieces does the largest jigsaw puzzle ever made have?

A. 79,232

B. 227,232

C. 403,232

D. 551,232

1. A - The first known jigsaw puzzle was made in 1766 by a man named John Spilsbury.

2. A - Jigsaw puzzles were invented in England. 

3. D - Spilsbury, a cartographer, invented jigsaw puzzles as educational devices to teach geography. 

4. C - Spilsbury named his creations "dissections." The name “jigsaw puzzle” was first used in 1906. 

5. B - Enigmatology is the study of puzzles. 

6. C - Approximately 1.8 billion puzzles are sold annually. 

7. B - A 467-piece, hand-cut wood puzzle sold for $27,000, making it the most expensive ever sold. 

8. A - International Puzzle Day is celebrated on January 29. 

9. D - You can buy an 8x29 foot puzzle with 60,000 pieces for $349 at Costco. 

10. D - The largest puzzle ever made has 551,232 pieces. 1600 college students in Ho Chi Mihn City put it together.