300, Optimago, Les Carreau des Halles

Optimago manufactured this very rare hand cut wooden puzzle in 1983. The title is Les Carreau des Halles, by Victor Gabriel Gilbert. Optimago Ltd were a prolific manufacturer of wooden jigsaw puzzles established in London in 1979. They ceased their activity in 2005. Their puzzles were not laser-cut. Instead, they preferred the more labor-intensive but traditional method of scroll saw cutting.

The puzzle is COMPLETE (300 pieces). The pieces are in excellent condition, except for 6 pieces that have the small hole of a pin. The box is in very good condition, with a small tape tear on the base, and some writing on the lid, as you can see in the photographs.

There are not many puzzles by Optimago. Another one is the 308 piece version of Above and Below Stairs, by John Strickland Goodall.

Falcon published a 1000 piece version of Elegant Ball, also by Victor Gabriel Gilbert.

More information about Above and Below Stairs:

• Puzzle size: 12 x 19.5 ins.
• Box size: 24.2 x 21.1 x 7.3 cm.
• Reference number: N/A.
• EAN number: N/A.