The Silent Teacher: Dissected Map of the United States with Each State in Counties (complete in box)

Lithograph covered wood puzzle of Clemens' United States of America map with Sherwin Williams Paint ad on reverse. Complete in 49 pieces, in original box.

Map copyright 1883 by G. W. & C. B. Colton & Co., NY; reverse side with Sherwin-Williams lithograph advertisement signed W. J. Morgan & Co., Cleveland. Imprint on box: [Sam'l. Crump Abel Co., N.Y.] Puzzle measures 11.5 x 16 inches; housed in wooden box, 7 x 9 x 2 inches. Plaid litho paper variously chipped around the box; lid with some abrasion and dimpling in the upper-right corner and punctured right on top of where the girlish "Uncle Sam" character hands a puzzle box to the racist caricatures of non-Western cultures, flanked by other variously represented nations, impressing the imperial powers of the US. Map has some chipping around the green border and mild general surface soil, but no major blemishes or losses. This example has some pencil doodling inside the box and two ads by J. R. Stannard in Boonville, NY, on the bottom of the box. A stamp on the inner lid indicates that's where this was originally sold. About Very Good overall.

Clemens produced his dissected map series with several geographic locations, including Europe and New York, with advertising for Sherwin-Williams Paints (in this case with a splendid Queen Anne house), and later, Singer Sewing Machines. 

"The Silent Teacher" was an existing puzzle map company purchased by Clemens, who introduced the lithograph cover graphic in the style of other game companies like McLoughlin Bros and Milton Bradley. An explanation on the underside of the lid ties this into other "Clemens' Educational Games," available from the "Object Lesson Publishing Company" run by Clemens in Clayville, NY.  The text refers to a forthcoming "Centennial Historical Game for 1883. This example appears to be particularly early--it uses Clemens' cover illustration but retains "The Silent Teacher" title, later changed to "Clemens' Silent Teacher" and published without date. A very nice, complete example.

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