2012/283/1-4

A Cottage in Somerset,

Tower Press (Manufacturer)

This card jigsaw puzzle ‘A Cottage in Somerset’ depicts a thatched cottage. It is a 400 piece puzzle in a lidded box. It is Tower Press puzzle made in the early 1950s. This is one of a large set of jigsaw puzzles on rural themes compiled by a private collector.

1 jigsaw puzzle, box and lid: cardboard

Pre-MERL list / description – 'Julie Peverett Collection of Jigsaws // Catalogue // FARMING AND RURAL // [Volume A:] (3) Card: Cottages // Manufacturer: Tower Press // Series: No. 1026 Our Beautiful Island // Title of puzzle: A COTTAGE IN SOMERSET // Material: Card // Size: 14 ½ x 19 1/2 // Number of pieces: 400 // Missing: None // Box/carton: Box (lidded) // Condition: - Box: Sello on sides, base split one side, o/w good - Puzzle: Some wear, one piece in halves // Artist: // Companion puzzles: Saint Michael’s Mount // The fishing harbour // Old English thatch // Comments: Made in England. Tower Press (London) Ltd., 44a Westbourne Grove, London, W2 // With guarantee and puzzle range slip. Early 1950s (mentions Festival of Britain) // Checked [tick] // Photo on film M83 (2007) // Copy of photo to Club', Letter, Julie Peverett to 'The Curator', 31 January 2011 – '... Dear Sir // I am writing on the off chance that the Museum might be interested in a collection I have. // For many years I have collected jigsaws with a farming or rural life theme and have amassed a large number dating mainly from the early 1900s to the present day (and I am still adding to it!). // I would now like to dispose of the older puzzles as a collection, as it would seem a pity to break it up. // The main categories are: // Wood puzzles // Mainly small, for adults, including Ponda, Chad Valley, Zag-Zaw (by Raphael Tuck), Zig Zag, etc. Early 1900s-1930s, plus later Victory puzzles. // approx. 70 // Card Puzzles // 1930s-1980s. The older ones are generally 200 to 400 pieces, larger puzzles from about the 1950s onwards. Manufacturers include Lumar, Philnar, Waddington, Arrow, Tower Press. // approx. 230 // Junior Puzzles (card and wood) // There are two beautiful antique puzzles from the 1860s/1870s. The remainder date from the early 1900s to the present day. There are some lovely early boxed sets by Nister (thick card), such as "Our Farmyard Puzzle Box" (which was still sealed when I bought it, and is in absolutely mint condition), "The Farm Puzzle Box" and "Farm Friends Puzzle Box", as well as later boxed sets by other manufacturers. Wood puzzles include Ponda and Victory. There are also wood block sets and wood playboards. // approx. 100 // Cottages // I also have a mini collection (!) of puzzles showing cottages, villages and gardens. I find it interesting when I come across the same cottage but with a different style thatch, etc. // approx. 50 // Most of the puzzles are in original boxes and generally in very good/excellent condition. The older boxes obviously show signs of wear. A few of the puzzles have good replacement pieces. The boxes are mainly very attractive, but the early wood adult puzzles usually have no guide pictures. As I keep a photographic record of my collection, I would be able to supply a copy of the picture. Alternatively, I could make the puzzles up on boards. // perhaps you could let me know if you are interested, or require more information. There would be no charge for the collection, as I have had much enjoyment from it over the years, but it would [word 'would' underlined] have to be collected! // Incidentally, I also have a range of childrens booklets and leaflets on farming, farm animals, etc., as well as farm games! // I enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. // Yours faithfully, (Mrs Julie Peverett) // P.S. The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication had my library of office equipment and shorthand book a year or two ago.', Letter, Ollie Douglas to Julie Peverett, 7 April 2011 – '... Dear Mr and Mrs Peverett, // Many thanks for showing us so much. Isabel [Hughes] and I were amazed to see the scope of your wonderful collections. I am grateful that you were happy for me to take the Archers-related items. I will accession them into the Museum’s collections in due course and will write again when I have done so. Given the pressures of the forthcoming exhibition it may be a little while before I have time to do this. // We are certainly keen to acquire more of the puzzles. Given the size of the collection the decision will need to be made at a higher level. The issue should be discussed during a Committee meeting in May. I am very much hoping that the Committee will agree to us accepting a significant number of the items you have offered. // I should also like to pursue a possible loan of the ‘Festival’ radio for our forthcoming exhibition: Everyday stories of country folk: 60 years of the Archers and the Museum of English Rural Life, 1951-2011. It would be displayed in a secure, museum-quality case and would need to be collected later this month. The exhibition opens on 1 May and closes on 22 December. We would likely be unable to return it until January 2012. Assuming you are happy for us to borrow the item, I will call you next week to arrange to collect the radio. // Yours, Dr Oliver Douglas // Assistant Curator', Letter, Julie Peverett to Dr Oliver Douglas, 7 July 2011 – '... Dear Ollie. // As promised, I enclose copies of catalogue sheets for the jigsaw puzzles that were not included in the numbered boxes. I hope that you now have information for all the puzzles - if not, let me know. // I have included some cuttings from the local paper about the artist Mike Jupp which you might find interesting. They are duplicates so I don't need them back. Let us know if you would like to come and look at the farm models. Are you by any chance interested in pottery honey pots, about 20-30 ?! Another of my collections! // Yours sincerely, (Julie Peverett) // Enc.'

Greater London [region]

1950 - 1955