Puzzle:John H. Woodbury Puzzle From Life Magazine

A paper puzzle, published in "LIFE" Magazine in 1896, required the reader to cut out and assemble jumbled pieces in order to reveal the image of "a well-known man." The assembled image depicts a portrait of John H. Woodbury along with printed instructions on where to mail the completed puzzle (plus 10 cents) for a reward. "Sponsored" by the John H. Woodbury Dermatological Institute, the puzzle and accompanying text advertised The Woodbury Soap Company. Established in 1870, Woodbury Soap used a variety of innovative advertising strategies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. According to collector Anne D. Williams, this may represent the earliest scattered image picture puzzle printed on paper. It differs from earlier and contemporaneous paper cut-out puzzles, usually printed complete with lines for cutting imposed over an image.