While rummaging through our local library book sale, we bought four unique shaped puzzles that did not fit the standard rectangular shape. We thought it would be fun to put them together. The four puzzles are:
Two round vintage jigsaw puzzles from 1960s. Each puzzle is nearly 1000 pieces. They are part of the Kent series from Milton Bradley. One puzzle is of “Castle of Chillon” and the other puzzle is of fishing boats, called “Fishing Comrades”.
An octagonal shaped vintage puzzle from 1980s called, Sweet Sentiments, made by Springbok. It is over 500 pieces. The image is of vintage Hallmark greetings cards from early 1900s.
Lastly, a 200 piece Diary of a Wimpy Kid puzzle shaped like Greg’s head. Greg is the main character in the books. We’ve read the complete book series of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and found it very funny. The puzzle was printed in 2012 by Pressman.
Furthermore, we only paid 50 cents for each puzzle, $2 total. What a steal! As with any used puzzles, we don’t know if the puzzles are complete or have missing pieces. Even if the puzzles are missing pieces, for 50 cents, it is still a great deal.
We got lucky with our find. Check with your local library on when and how often they conduct their book sales. In the past, we have also found interesting items beside books, such as CDs, LPs, DVDs, maps, posters, artwork, games, and more. The money raised from our local library’s book sale is used to fund various library programs.
So, have you bought puzzles from library books sales before? If yes, what have you bought? Where else have you found great used puzzles? Please, let us know in the comments section.
I have not bought any puzzles at library sales but I was a big thrift store shopper pre-covid and bought virtually almost all of my puzzles from thrift stores. I am slowly doing them one by one and always have one on my dining room table. I will get an occasional new one or gift of a new puzzle but I have bought 90 – 95 percent of my puzzles from the thrift stores, one in particular had the best as far as safely put on shelves, the puzzles were not just tossed around in other words. I have bought a few on ebay, but prefer the thrill of the hunt of the thrifts. I have found many “expensive” brand puzzles this way and a whole lot of sealed puzzles there, too. The thrift I like the best pre-covid priced their puzzles at $1.99. They are all taped up or rubber banded well there and I have bought way too many puzzles, but you see a great one for $1.99 and you know you just have to have it 🙂 So far I have only had to throw out 5 for missing pieces but that will grow over time. I have found that most puzzlers are very careful with their puzzles when donating. A lot I find have the pieces inside in ziplocks, etc. and some take time to put the edge pieces in ziplocks. Some write their initials on the back and put like “all here” somewhere on the box or they will write on the front “missing 2 pieces”… That is fabulous and then you know. I always buy the ones that say complete or all here if I like the puzzle. I have been able to learn about a lot of brands this way and what I like and don’t like in puzzles. I have no problem donating some back, too. I make a pile of the ones I want to do again and share and then I donate those I feel I can get out. I also share smaller puzzles with my mother who is in her 80’s and she gets a lot of enjoyment out of them. I am looking forward to being able to thrift again after covid one day but as for now, I am like I am assuming for your family–still well stocked on puzzles. On a side note, I have bought one big lot of ebay that had free shipping once so it was not that bad a deal (they were new) and a few single random puzzles vintage ones off of ebay—but I find I don’t enjoy that as much—sometimes they are put up by those who have not done the puzzle and they have no idea if the pieces are there or not sometimes and shipping can eat eat up the good deal. Ebay has been more miss than hit for me, especially after prices went up after covid. However, I just found a few weeks ago on ebay, a vintage Joseph Strauss wood puzzle for $5.50 on there someone who didn’t puzzle just listed as something like “old puzzle” and was a seller or other items—and just also listed that puzzle. I had no idea what it was until I got it. They showed one poor picture but I could tell it was an old wood puzzle, so I took a chance. It’s next on my to -do pile. Hardest thrift store puzzles so far have been an older puzzle named “Ivory Cat” by Educa (maybe from the 90’s?) and “Cobble Hill – White-tailed Deer, 1000-Piece Puzzle”. That one was super hard. I l loved the cobble hill shapes but that one was so hard I have not touched a bear one from them I also bought yet that is a very similar setting in the woods with the bear! I have also found a huge variety in puzzle quality in some brands and in the same brand of each other! I think a lot of the older puzzles have a higher quality or at least so far in my purchases, but they are all hit or miss sometimes. I love Buffalo for the posters and Ravensburger but have had a few Ravensburger with not the quality you’d assume it would have—so again they are all (all puzzles) hit or miss with me. I have found many older puzzles with thick, interlocking pieces that have been fabulous like old guild ones or MB, etc. I found I don’ t like landscapes in the old ones… too hard to see. Love your videos, I have twin nephews (now grown with their own children), but I enjoy watching your videos and found your reviews today. Thanks for sharing your puzzles.
Margaret: Thanks for sharing your experience with finding jigsaw puzzles at thrift stores. Glad to hear you’ve found great puzzles that way. We’ve tried checking out thrift stores in our area pre-covid but didn’t find good selections or just too pricey. Luckily for us, we’re still have plenty of puzzles to solve from a huge collection that we got off Craigslist way before covid hit.