We have a real sweet spot for mini puzzles and have somewhat accidentally accumulated quite a large collection. 96 to be exact.
A mini puzzle is the best for when you’re feeling the puzzle itch but don’t necessarily have the time or space to work on a full size puzz. A puzzle snack as we like to say. But that got us thinking, what constitutes a mini puzzle? What is the piece-count cut off? We looked into it for a definitive answer but found nothing. Left with no choice we decided the cut off point is around 90 pieces. Once you hit 100 it just doesn’t really feel mini anymore.
Here are some highlights from the collection!
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=488&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=0bb86410a73989e208cfc27e5fb68540 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=977&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=8e2a35d94a479592cec680025a1f44db 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=403&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=e1b45642bf2ac96701d805b90392dbbd 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=807&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=8c0bb0eb1edf218dad26a9473ac5f731 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=312&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=5da293a020e3726aa6eb2d903a79cdd0 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=44efd68758241023ab5f7d82bd0a41f4 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=234&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=551ad360e706260f1e39ba79d10beda8 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Circular.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=469&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=339b85331a90f6f452301af821bb7b70 1152w)
Springbok Appeteasers
We treasure our Springbok Appeteaser collection and are lucky enough to have the complete collection of 12. Made in 1973 this gorgeous little set of photographic puzzles features one item of food per puzz. The packaging is a particular highlight of this generation of Springbok mini puzzles. The round box is impossibly adorable and the 65 piece puzzle inside is the perfect size and difficulty. The back of each box has a cheeky little poem or copy about the food on the front. Puzzle was at peak silly in the 70s and these are the perfect examples of that.
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=8847e2b22888ea5389455ef46e431e1a 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2400&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=b380a4118adcfe0c447aa59ae19d3d52 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=992&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=eece3deab67cdd4e30dc71b06d6ac0f5 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1984&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=ef2d7c4595c7f5bae6cd01133fb54c5c 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=4b45f14ac01e26418332e7820737c72b 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1536&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=2021ebea273614310e132dd9a60db38d 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=b218d13d1f001eb74f6800d621f26b27 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Springbok_MISC.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=4238332d8ae1ae23a232e52b470a95ec 1152w)
Round Misc.
Being such big fans of this particular Springbok mini puzzle packaging we couldn’t help but collect other puzzles from various series’ of that time. We have a few from the Flirtations, Naturescapes, Enchantment, Flirtations and the Psychedelic Mother Goose series. They also all include a funny little bit of copy on the back. Something interesting to note is that not all of these puzzles have the same die-line. There are a few different cuts in rotation at this time so that each puzzle wasn’t the same.
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=488&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=41638095381bb9eed249df90d241733d 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=977&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=fc592da40b30433f271a4a419cd6a6ea 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=403&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=4bd95ea265a6ec4b8ec108cf6ea3c1ab 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=807&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=f9c6e2206233c8aa4d85d60566f3abbb 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=312&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=8ffb512be25a6b3e8a4488685053f547 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=2b9b0a8df49e879adb31a9cb40b03747 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=234&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=40b5cf5f8257ab637ac538f5b2743519 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Knob_2023-07-25-204900_bitc.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=469&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=bbe2958731090174deb9b2642592546a 1152w)
Nob Food Puzzles
This is a relatively new obsession for us but let’s just say we fell hard for these Japanese Nob-man puzzles. This is a series of 3D food shaped puzzles was designed by genius puzzle maker Nob Yoshigahara and manufactured by both Toyo Glass and Beverly. They were all designed and manufactured in the 80s and a few are still in production today. The difficulty level ranges in scale but most of them are insanely hard and require the use of a cheat code that you have to request in email form from a blog. The code you get is another puzzle in and of itself. It’s gorgeous but hard to understand. The whole cheat system is so silly and incredible. We were able to acquire most of these from Japanese resale sites, but there are still so many we’re dying to get our hands on.
- Whiskey on the Rocks, 1989, 7 pieces — Toyo Glass
- A-MAIZ-ING, 1980s, 14 pieces — Toyo Glass
- Peanuts, 1980s, 10 pieces — Toyo Glass
- Pack The Broad Beans, 1980s, 9 pieces — Toyo Glass
- Pudding, 1980s, 12 pieces — Beverly
Egg Puzzles
This is an incredible set of egg themed mini puzzles we found on eBay. It was made by a company called Hammoco Designs Ltd. from London and was made in 1980. It features 6 mini puzzles each inside of an oversized plastic egg shell. Each puzzle is of a different typical English breakfast and each die-line is unique to the specific puzzle. The fact that the whole thing comes in this oversized egg carton is truly the cherry on top! There is very limited information about this series of puzzles online but we cherish them so much and feel very lucky to have found them by searching “vintage puzzle 1980’ on eBay.
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=2ba28536a12a1942e8ad5e06cdf6d4ad 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2400&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=b8870fb8bd08339920f3455f086e7e6e 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=992&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=252610b0885205ecdaea3a93f6cda427 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1984&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=b827c3cfd0070b9d5c0d935034911118 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=73f26455ced77411bd2035fa28bed8cf 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1536&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=46f81488166f07eb3d9d564574006531 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=f10a4ef3d92f4125f7e9e585f91fd20b 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Beverly.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=41f02736a9bb8dbe88f374ac5ac9b7aa 1152w)
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=20dcba0afe920501825ba7c0bc2fb52b 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2400&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=7c09edac6cba245222dafca3889e60d3 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=992&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=57a483eccd0568dbd40e19a8694d6ab6 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1984&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=bd6511ecc10785302c1884ce201a59ea 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=f6cd311c5f9bbe198ca4f8e80e5a7264 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1536&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=f8480c7f4484f0a78f9ab2583e1aee8c 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=1dff4848dd7a3c1852c60e7aedec7fa7 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Hamburger_Jigsaw.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=6b3845443822cd101cac450fe43cda71 1152w)
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=647adad6ad0d52ed5587207d8fdaa60c 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2400&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=f2056ffe6ca386399819a6f8e8a66207 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=992&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=d76b0dc640781ea6c4841368b58e9d2e 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1984&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=f0730a2a02df9b64c9be3becab503e9e 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=780a8d97fea9fe1801eb1d087cabc4c2 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1536&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=afd4f72e7148a3a97ce3d07c2b0d4452 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=c1b3e9f491e6a160fe206068be727e35 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Garfield_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=731df5887a8872062f2bb0183dc046c7 1152w)
![](https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200&s=78831838742bed67d402d485913bffcf 1200w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2400&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400&s=8e3e75642f80123330b3afb7641c3d1b 2400w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=992&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=992&s=10af2e44b3e0d8f8bd338ee268634e9b 992w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1984&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984&s=694629f74ea03b42407dd93fa723d9e3 1984w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=768&s=b9e5dff7ee664f22bbb9c7711017e6de 768w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1536&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1536&s=1973b07be2c0e2f5f5419703e01f1df5 1536w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&usm=20&w=576&s=40ca2496f270ac203a12eee853f1d577 576w, https://varyer.imgix.net/Chicago_Puzz.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=varyer.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&usm=20&w=1152&s=e60c72b5eb5009ce903e3c84d3d73004 1152w)
Honorable Mentions
- Hamburger Puzzle by Beverly from 2006. It consists of 53 pieces of a mix of bun, patty, pickle and cheese. Gorgeous. Perfect.
- 31 piece Hamburger puzzle “Made in Hong Kong for SNP, Chicago IL. This unhinged puzzle from 1976 has zero tabs to connect pieces leaving you with a wildly unstable photo of a burger, shake and ketchup and mustard bottles.
- Our cute Garfield puzzle from 1978. A 7” x 7” mini puzzle from International Polygonics LTD. We got this one from the thrift store and is unfortunately missing some pieces but we love it just the same.
- Chicago Puzzle! A perfect little ode to Chicago in 100 pieces. The puzzle features a cute little illustration of the city and “a view of the world”. It’s by Harvey Cutter & Co. Inc. and is from 1986. This one makes us rethink our mini puzzle piece-count limit to 100. Another incredible thrift store find!