Puzzle of Europe for the blind (1900)

Milhaud 2025-08-17
Puzzle of Europe for the blind (1900)

This piece corresponds to a wooden puzzle, possibly created in Germany around 1900. It is currently kept at the Perkins School in Massachusetts, United States.

Each piece corresponds to the independent countries that existed in Europe around 1900. The puzzle was created to facilitate the study of European geography among blind people. This can be seen in the fact that the pieces fit together, but not at the same height, so that the borders of the different countries and coastlines can be explored by touch. The pieces also incorporate a small grip that allows a country to be removed so that its shape can be studied by touch.

In the newsletter, I have written more about maps for the blind and their history. You can read it here:

  1. The origins of cartography for the blind
  2. Braille, Kunz and modern cartography for the blind
  3. The present and future of cartography for the blind

Sources

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