Zoo Zag wooden puzzle, produced by Abbatt Toys and designed by James Gardner (1909-1995) CBE RDI FRSA, made in England, ca.1950

40 piece jigsaw puzzle (3 pieces are missing). The puzzle is made of two layers of plywood. The upper layer has been machine cut to form the loose puzzle pieces and the remaining surrounds glued down on to the base board. The puzzle has two levels of visual information. The upper one is an illustration of the layout of a zoo, complete with animals in cages, paths and entrances. The lower layer, viewed when pieces of the puzzle are not in place shows the printed names of the animals that correspond with the upper pieces to be placed on top. The three missing pieces are for the snakes, a dromedary camel and the third elephant on the elephant walk.

Given by Eve Harrison

This game is a representation of the London Zoo as accurate in plan as is consistent with the moves in the game.

Instructions of the game:

Little children of three years and onwards will use it individually as a jigsaw puzzle. The forty pieces can be fitted into their right places before the children know how to read, as the assembled pieces form a continuous picture. They will be helped to recognise and distinguish the animals. Later on they will be helped in their reading, for they will then mainly use the names to fit the pieces in the right places.
The subject matter is of great interest to children, and it has the advantage over a book that the children can move the pieces about relative to one another. In handling, sorting and arranging the pieces, they are given an activity for their hands which will greatly assist mental development.
Zoo-Zag is both a toy and a game. When they are a little older they can play at it as well as with it. Zoo-Zag, for older children, is played in the following way:

ZOO-ZAG (for 2 players)
The players shuffle the pieces face downwards as in dominoes, taking an equal number each. In the second or later game, the winner of the preceding game takes the large piece marked Tunnel. The pieces are stood in front of each player so that he alone can see them.
If either player has any animals which are not separated by a line on the backboard, he may place these on the board at once. Then play starts, the one with the Tunnel beginning. He must place an animal on the board next to one already there. If there are no pairs already placed, he must place the Tunnel. Where animals are in pairs on the backboard, he may not place one without the other.
After playing he allows his opponent to take any one of his animals, without seeing their faces, of course. Pairs of animals may be placed at the same time, and also the three elephants. Pairs, and the elephants and the Tunnel may be placed without regard to whether there is already an animal next to them or not.
When a player cannot place an animal or animals according to the rules he misses his turn. The one wins who gets rid of his pieces first.
When there are three players, each one has thirteen animals and one has the Tunnel in addition. With four or five players the pieces are divided equally.

Designed by James Gardner for the Abbatt's.

Zoo Zag is a classic example of puzzle design of the 1950s. It was produced for the toy company Abbatt toys and designed by famous exhibition and museum designer, James Gardner, who was perhaps most renowned for his work related to the Festival of Britain. Paul and Marjorie Abbatt made toys for children from 1932 and were interested in designing and producing toys that aided development through play. The Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger designed their shop according to his Modernist principles and their requirement for child friendly access and appeal.

B.67:1, 2-2009