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It was some chap called John Spilsbury in the late 18th century who devised the first ‘dissected puzzle’. Almost all the earliest such puzzles to become known and beloved as Jigsaw Puzzles were made out of wood,often of mahogany. They were also often map puzzles depicting the countries of the world, hand coloured , the pieces cut around the different countries.

If you can find one of the earliest puzzles with all pieces intact, you will be well rewarded. Several years ago a set of Spilsbury jigsaws would have fetched at auction in excess of £25,000. One Spilsbury jigsaw of the map of England, where each piece was allocated a county could set you back around £2,000.

Although you may not be able to get your hands on one of these rarest of puzzles, you may profit by visiting collectors weekly.

But you may not be looking merely for profit, and as a collector you continue to research and hunt for choice specimens to add to your collection. These may include the most recent variety of mass produced puzzle punched out of cardboard. And yes, there is a name for such collectors: Dissectologists. For further research, you can go to The British Jigsaw Puzzle Library

This legendary 16-bit wonder -illustrated below-was so impressive it saved an entire generation of pixel-gawpers from a squandered childhood fumbling for change down the arcade.

If you’re a genuine retro gaming nerd you’ll know that the Sega Mega Drive was the first home console to successfully combine instantly addictive gameplay with gorgeous graphics and sound.

But if all this reminiscing is making you long for that dusty Mega Drive you flippantly flogged in order to buy a few Roxette albums and a tasselled leather jacket, fear not. Firebox is about to save the day with this ‘new’ improved version of Sega’s classic console. It comes with two controllers! Simply plug it into the telly and you’re away.

With your Sega Mega Twin Player, you get 15 preloaded licensed games, including Sonic the Hedgehog,Knuckles, Alex Kidd, Golden Axe and many more.
Although it’s smaller than the original Firebox says you can still bung in all those old Mega Drive and Genesis cartridges that have been languishing in the loft. Indeed, this nifty region-muncher doesn’t care where your games originated.

Note: This could make a really special gift for Father’s Day.Go for it, make his day!
father’s day gifts from Firebox

Beloved of children and adults alike since the mid-1980s, when his character began to be developed properly by talented muppeteer,Kevin Clash, Elmo has been a constant in the Sesame Street series.

Red and furry,Elmo,an ‘evergreen’ 3 1/2 years of age, is a monster known for his friendly and cheerful disposition. His big white eyes and orange nose also picks him out from the crowd.

You can own this lovable goldfish-loving 21″ plush character. The current economic woes should not deter you, as the cost has been slashed by a massive 20 % on this ,and many other Sesame Steet favourites ( including:Big Bird,Grover,Cookie Monster), at

But to receive your discount be sure to quote this coupon code with your order:

URMARCH20

But you need to act quickly. Offer must close in 14 days.

British designs that have stamped an indelible impression on the collective culture of Britain are depicted on a new set of stamps issued by the Royal Mail.

The Royal Mail says of this fine set of postage stamps destined to be design classics in their own right in the world of philately:

“From the distinctive lines of RJ Mitchell’s Spitfire fighter and the stylish chic of Mary Quant’s daring mini skirt to the calm of the Penguin Books jacket and the practicality of Robin Day’s Polypropylene chair. But there’s one that remains close to millions of people’s hearts – the Mini. In 1959 the first Mini rolled off the production lines at the British Motor Corporation’s plants at Longbridge, Birmingham and Cowley in Oxford.”

For more information and how to order your own set from Royal Mail click here
for the Collecting and Philately Shop

Lovers of computer and video driving games will love this! The Driving Games Manual from Haynes Publishing. One hundred and seventy-four pages, between decorated hard covers, jam packed with full colour ,full-on action, illustrations of screenshots and moto photos to excite even the most laid-back ,seen-it-all, racing games player. As a student of the video game genre, the Driving Games Manual takes you through four decades of spectacular games development from 1974.

But more than a detailed history of the car video game, Driving Games Manual is a Guide that will enthuse the ‘newby’, and also help hone the skills of the more experienced driving player. As a Guide, it reveals in wonderful clarity the speed of change in both software and hardware. We have the arcade consoles period of rise to eminence, and the continuing improvement of the console design to provide a realistic racing experience in the home.

A key benefit of this ultimate guide to car computer and video games is that,being a book, it can be constantly to hand as a reference source and treasury of tips and facts, and it offers a break from the tension and excitement of the on screen racing action. At leisure, in your armchair at home, you can explore the intricate nature of car set-up,for instance, or develop a strategy for your track technique with basic and defensive racing lines, and many other driving techniques.

As with any cutting edge technologies, driving games have impressed at each stage of their development, but they have had to evolve to stay ahead and realistic. This they have successfully done,and in so doing have endured to this day commanding a huge global following.

If you grew-up driving Gran Trak 10 or the first Gran Turismo, the grand daddy of them all,or Pole Position (1982), the graphics were spellbinding for their time,and now we have Gran Turismo 5 … and others. This evolution in graphics,audio and A1 is entertainingly covered in the The Driving Games Manual. You will also be able check-out all time best driving game titles and The Driving Games List of more than 400 releases for both arcade and home since the early 1970s.

For me (and clearly for Bruno Senna who provides an insightful foreward) The Driving Games Manual is a must. Excellent value from most main book retailers, this book will keep you entertained for hours and hours.

If you wish to purchase a copy online- and what a Christmas gift!- you can go to Driving Games Manual: The Ultimate Guide to All Car-based Computer and Video Games

Haynes Publishing have put together a must-have Desk Diary for 2009. One week to view,there is a planner for each month which has dedicated to it an incredible cutaway illustration of a classic car from the 1960s,1970s,or 1980s. Represented in Terry Davey’s unmistakable style are the Peugeot 205 (January),Ford Escort Mexico (February),Datsun 280 ZX (March),Rover 3500 (April),Pontiac Firebird(May), and seven more. There is short history that goes with each monthly illustration which tell of models,engines and relevant dates,and other fascinating information for the motoring enthusiast.

Terry Davey worked for Haynes Publishing for 40 years, a period which included the last decades of the twentieth century. His amazing cutaways were drawn in pen and ink,using the basic draughtsman’s tools for curves and lines.

You can be amazed all year round in 2009 with this very fine publication,hardcover bound with an MG Sports car depicted on the cover. Maybe you owned a Hillman Imp (August), or a BMW E3 saloon (December); or, you know someone who did.

So just to give you the contents of the Haynes Desk Diary 2009:

In addition to the the monthly cutaways with planner, you are provided with

One Week To View
Year Planners for 2009 and 2010
Conversion Factors
Number Plate registration area identification letters
UK distance chart
A brief history of Haynes

Oh,and I almost forgot, the endleaves are very attractively decorated with small images taken of front covers from various Haynes Publications.

If you need to follow the days carefully next year, and to have plenty of space to write notes, be also amazed each month, as you turn the pages to a new cutaway. Click hereHaynes Desk Diary 2009

If you are taken by the cutaways produced by Terry Davey then you should have a look at another Haynes publication as well which shows more of his work in:
The Classic Cutaways, click for the inretrostore website

Formula 1: The Book of Formula 1 Top Tens

This pocket treasury of Formula 1 facts and figures is a must for the motor racing fan of any age. At 192 pages, this book is easy to read, handy-sized , and a real ‘put-down and pick-up again soon’ sort of a book. It is written by Roger Smith who knows his sport having over fifty years of intensive study,and attendances at Grand Prix, in his pit.

As well as the ‘Top Ten ‘ key facts of who won what,where,when,and in what car, since the beginning of Formula 1 in 1950, you will be amazed at the many other top ten category rankings like : most poles at home grand prix,most victories by driver nationality,most successful tyre manufacturers,furthest winning margins, and so on.

The ‘Top Ten ‘ in each of category , including the weird and wondrous past happenings on the race circuits , is listed on the right hand page , facing fuller and insightful revelations in facts and figures on the left hand side. You can read or flip pages, at your leisure. Facts and figures abound. Over 200 magnificent drivers,50 great cars and 40 wonderful race circuits are covered in this mine of motor racing information.

So be there again at Long Beach in 1983 , when John Watson, from 22nd place at the back of the grid, took the lead in the 45th of 75 laps to win.Or, perhaps,you recall when Michael Schumacher pipped Damon Hill by 1 point for the Championship in 1994.Raikkonen,of course,did the same to Hamilton last year. Lewis Hamilton, in his short F1 career,is ranked in another fascinating section in the top ten of the greatest wet-weather victories ever, when in this year he won at Silverstone. I could go on…

It is a pity that the tight publication deadlines for this excellent book meant that the reporting of Lewis Hamilton as the youngest ever F1 Champion could not be included, and in its appropriate place. But that’s life for you, it carries on apace… like racing. The book is not any the less for that, as an incredible resource of Formula 1 motor racing history.

You should treat yourself,or another, to this fun fest of handy motoring knowledge. The Book of Formula 1 Top Tens is published by Haynes Publishing (I shall be reviewing another of its great titles very soon) and you can buy it by clicking here The Book of Formula 1 Top Tens

What to buy the children for Xmas on a budget? How about a bunch of nostalgia, which the kids will enjoy as much as may be you ,or your parents, did? Toys of a style from yesteryear.

I believe I have found just the resource for you. You will have to check out its terms of business. There is a great selection,and I shall be showcasing some items that look appealing and of good value. Why don’t you go to the ToyDay website to check it out?

Vinyl toys are the latest craze in the UK from Japan and USA. Designed by some of the best and well renowned artists in the world including Frank Kozik, Jon Burgerman and Andrew Bell they are great collectibles and make perfect gifts. For the full range click here forUrban Retro