JR Puzzles, "British Isles", 500pcs

2017.09.10 - date completed
JR Puzzles (UK)
Picture map puzzle of the
"British Isles" 
500pcs.
Illustration: Robert Salmon

NOTE: Created by the JR Jigsaw company (who appeared to be quite prolific during the 90’s with regards to releasing jigsaws), you could potentially write off this geographical puzzle of the British Isles as just being another generic, ten-a-penny map. But, scratch beneath the surface, and there is a level of detail, activity and, dare I say, fun, to be had. Robert Salmon is the artist behind this. If this name means absolutely nothing to you, then the feeling is mutual. During my brief trawl online, I’ve not been able to find out anything substantial about him; barring the fact that he drew similar puzzles for different continents (one of which, Europe, we also had whilst growing up), all of which share the same art style and somewhat kooky level of detail. Whoever – and wherever – he is will likely remain a mystery (though if any intrepid reader can provide me with further information, I would be eternally grateful).
The jigsaw, as a whole, has a whole lot going on within it. As well as highlighting all of the major counties and regions in the British Isles (Funducational!), there is a menagerie of different characters inhabiting the different regions, countries and oceans: a man and woman playing water volleyball in Cornwall; a man tree-climbing in Cumbria; fishermen gawping at seals just off the Shetlands; even a fleet of Viking vessels, intent on plundering the North Sea’s oil platforms (in my imagination, certainly…). There is certainly a lot here to capture the imagination of the young and old alike, and I have fond memories of the times when we would dig the puzzle out and discover something new happening each time as we constructed it.
There is something quintessentially innocent about the entire puzzle’s design, that also belies some potential stereotyping of each part of the British Islands. For example, the North-West features a footballer and a Satellite Dish. Now, the footballer is most definitely a direct allusion to Manchester United but the second…does the North-West of England have a higher number of Sky TV subscribers compared to the rest of the country? There are also some accurate representations, such as the oil platforms in the North Sea, Big Ben down in London and York Minster. You could certainly use the jigsaw for a skewered, yet partially effective, learning tool for geography.