This attractive late 19th century puzzle map contains all 38 pieces and intact box (no guide map is present). Many of these puzzles carry the date 1887 but were published later. This is an 1887 or 1888 edition based on the undivided Dakota Territory. Present-day Oklahoma is Indian Territory along with the unassigned Public Lands in the panhandle. The original paper label on the box features Miss Columbia (female personification of the United States) instructing a Native American. The label combines the printing processes of multi-stone chromolithography, solid color zinc plate, and gold stamping to produce a beautiful image. McLoughlin Bros., Inc. was a New York publishing firm that pioneered the systematic use of color printing technologies in children's books, particularly between 1858 and 1920. The firm's publications served to popularize illustrators including Thomas Nast, William Momberger, Justin H. Howard, Palmer Cox, and Ida Waugh. By 1886, the firm published a wide range of items including cheap scrapbooks, large folio picture books, linen books, puzzles, games and paper dolls.

References: Williams (The Jigsaw Puzzle) pp. 26-27.

Condition: B+

There is some light soiling, minor wear, a few bowed pieces, and small pencil notations in the margins that number the outer pieces. The box is intact with some wear and minor abrasions along the edges.