Kolibri Wooden Puzzles

In the 1960s, a family-run Dutch puzzle company by the name of Kolibri acquired one of the first Disney licenses in the Netherlands. It was for the production of a series of wooden puzzles, most of which would be exported to Belgium.

When obtaining the license, the Klaus family was told that the images for their round puzzle discs would have to be delivered by the Disney company. Yet, one of the owner's sons, Vincent, was a fine artist and set about drawing his own. The father sent the examples to Disney. They liked the samples so much that they approved them. So in the end, all of the Disney puzzle discs would be designed by Vincent Klaus.

This children's puzzle disc features Snow White opposite the Witch, with the Seven Dwarfs and their cottage in between.

Puzzle image and additional info courtesy of the H.P. Hogenboom Collection.

A few other Kolibri non-disc puzzles...

Additional images via the Kolibri Puzzle website.

Vintage 6-Sided Block Puzzle

Although the majority of these wooden block puzzles contain no visible copyright or manufacturer information anywhere, they most certainly hail from Europe, with the earliest examples produced circa 1938. The dandy 20-piece set can be assembled into six completely different Snow White scenes, all of which feature very early, atypical character renderings, the kind of work seen by international artists before Disney pulled in the reins.

At first sight, you may think this was not an officially licensed Disney product, and you might be right. However, several of the puzzle boxes I've come across have “FOREIGN” stamped on the bottom, something that has been seen on other products from that era which were Disney-approved. The marking also leads to the assumption that they were made for export.

Each puzzle cube measures 1.5" across and has a lithographed illustration attached to all six sides. Included with the set are six separate paper sheets showing what the assembled images should look like. Four are loose, one is attached to the outside of the box, and the other is on the underside of the lid.

This first example features a box cover with the Dwarfs' discovery of Snow White. The box itself is made of wood. Definitely a rare one!

The four loose sheets in this set include the Dwarfs marching home.

Snow White surrounded by the Dwarfs.

Evil Queen at the Mirror, Huntsman with heartbox, and Prince sneaking over wall to have a better look at Snow by the (wishing) well.

The Witch with Snow White and the poison apple.

Inside the hinged wooden box is the final scene, the Prince's arrival at Snow White's coffin.

The bottom of the box reads “FOREIGN”.

Wooden Box images courtesy of CollectingCollectibles.com.

Several variations in the box design were produced, with most simply fashioned from paperboard. No manufacturer markings anywhere on this edition. Measures 8" x 6.5".

Another example sports red-colored sides and a different cover image. Also, a bottom-stamp that reads "Made in Czechoslovakia". Since the Nazis took control of this region in 1939, it's likely this puzzle was produced at the time of the film's 1938 release.

Under the lid.

A marching Dwarfs box cover, though no red sides panels.

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And now the completed puzzles...

Red Box Cover + Completed Puzzles courtesy of Rick Payne at dadric's attic.

It's always a treat when such a simple thing as a child's toy can offer a glimpse into another time, and in this case, also to some very early Snow White artwork!

Whitman 'Old Witch' and 'Silly Song' Puzzles

Whitman Publishing Company produced these two "frame-tray" puzzles back in 1966. Each measures 11.5" x 14.5" and features character illustrations that are interestingly atypical. The Snow White Witch puzzle (# 4638) contains 36 pieces. The Snow White Silly Song scene (#4538) has 17 pieces.

Witch Puzzle courtesy of the Raymond Collection.

Silly Song Puzzle via NewYorkMarketplace.

Other versions of these puzzles were also produced. This one is smaller at 8" x 10" and lacks the Whitman banner across the top. It's marked "Walt Disney Productions" in the lower left corner...

Image via member2150232.

Jaymar Snow White "Forest Edge" & "Washtub" Puzzles

In addition to the tray puzzle seen in the earlier post, the illustration of Snow White at the Forest Edge was also produced by Jaymar as a pocket puzzle.

Images via Le Chateau Art Gallery.

...and a 100+ piece "Picture Puzzle in the Round", #3032.

Images via devildog6768.

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The Washtub illustration was issued as a pocket puzzle too.

Image via jellybean1509.

Jaymar "Snow White with Soup" Puzzles

The Soup illustration seen in the earlier post was used in an assortment of Jaymar puzzles including this 300-piece boxed edition. 14" x 22".

Images via yeoldemousehouse.

The illustration was cropped for the 1952 red border tray series. Measures 11" x 14", 35-pieces. Marked "Copyright MCMLII Jaymar Specialty Co. New York Series 2596."

Image via GS Collectibles.

The red boarder was also produced as #2379-2. Along the bottom of each puzzle reads: "Walt Disney's Productions" and "Jaymar Specialty Co, 200 Fifth Ave, New York. Made in U.S.A. 2379-2."

The same number and markings would appear again in the 4-puzzle set #2379-2, but it had a yellow boarder and red oval Jaymar logo. Set included Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and the Three Little Pigs.

Set of four came packaged in this box.

Images via walnut antique mall.

The Bantam Pocket Picture Puzzle, #8732.

Same pocket puzzle but cropped image.

Images via New Hampshire House of Antiques and foxxtrotrat2007.

Jaymar also produced a "Picture Puzzle in the Round" series. 100+ pieces. Measures approximately 19" across.

Round images via ItsAllOurVault.

Jaymar "Snow White with Broom" Puzzles

The four Snow White illustrations seen in the previous post were re-used for many years by the Jaymar Specialty Company. They appeared in a variety of different jigsaw designs including large boxed puzzles, inlaid trays, puzzles in the round, and mini-pocket puzzles. Here's a closer look at the "Snow White with Broom" puzzles.

This 300-piece dates from early to mid-1940s and was part of a series of war-time puzzles issued by Disney that also included Pinocchio, Bambi, Dumbo, and Silly Symphony characters. The picture measures 14" x 22" and box is 7" x 10".

Box Cover

Cover via Heritage Auctions, Interior Continental Hobby House.

One of the interesting things about this puzzle is that it contains eleven "figural" pieces, puzzle pieces shaped like objects or animals: a house, a pig, a shoe...

Figural Puzzle images via kimbazwhitelion and puzzlehistory.com.

The same 300 piece puzzle also appeared in this box. It still has the original 29¢ Woolworth price tag on it.

And a 400+ piece puzzle.

Image via fish-bonez.

In addition to being included in the set of four 1967 yellow-border tray puzzles (previous post), this illustration was also used in an earlier 1952 version. It had a red border and was marked with the Roman numerals MCMLII. Note the illustration has been cropped from that of the original above.

Image via DTR Ideas.

In conjunction with Bantam, Jaymar would produce a number of "pocket puzzles", mini-puzzles measuring 5.125" x 7" in size. The logo on side of box reads, "Bantam Pocket Picture Puzzle" and "Jaymar Walt Disney Characters." Box measures 3.687" x 5.687 " and 1.5" high.












Special thanks to collector Rick Payne for supplying additional information on these puzzles.