About this Item
Cooper Paper Box Company. Interlocking Jig Saw Picture Puzzle - Series A: Washington at Valley Forge. Buffalo, New York: Cooper Paper Box Corp., 368 Sycamore Street. Made in U.S.A. Over 250 pieces (complete). Finished size approximately 11 x 15 inches. Circa 1950-1960 (post-1949 based on corporate address; 368 Sycamore St. building constructed 1949).
A classic mid-century American interlocking jigsaw puzzle depicting George Washington at Valley Forge in traditional historical illustration style. The bold red-and-cream graphic box design, strong block typography, and straightforward patriotic subject matter are emblematic of early postwar American family entertainment products. Cooper Paper Box Company, primarily a packaging manufacturer, produced these affordable cardboard puzzles during the late 1940s-1950s hobby boom, when jigsaw puzzles were a staple of American home recreation. Surviving complete examples are increasingly scarce, particularly with intact original boxes.
Complete set with no missing pieces. Puzzle pieces Near Fine - clean, bright, and structurally sound with strong interlocks and minimal handling wear. Image surface retains good color clarity. Box top and bottom Very Good - moderate edge wear, light corner compression, top-edge separation, age toning, and typical shelf wear, but structurally solid with clear, legible graphics. A well-preserved example positioned strongly within the desirable mid-century American collectible category.
Early post-1949 production. Absence of ZIP code (pre-1963) supports 1950s manufacture. Early Series A issue.
Cooper Paper Box Company was a Buffalo, New York - based packaging manufacturer active in the mid-20th century primarily engaged in producing cardboard boxes and printed packaging, the company also manufactured interlocking cardboard jigsaw puzzles during the post-World War II hobby boom of the late 1940s and 1950s. Like many regional paper-box firms of the era, Cooper leveraged its die-cutting and printing capabilities to produce affordable, mass-market puzzles for department stores and five and dime shops. While not as widely documented as national brands such as Milton Bradley or Whitman, Cooper puzzles are now of interest to collectors of mid-century Americana and regional toy manufacturing history due to their relative scarcity and distinctive box graphics.
Seller Inventory # NF.PUZ.CPB.1
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