Vera Puzzle
France has produced many fine wooden jigsaw puzzles over the last century or more, but none can compare to the vast selection of puzzles produced by Vera of Paris. The company, Établissements Vera was created in 1934 by Russian immigrant Alexandre Tchertoff and two associates, originally based at 5 rue Auguste Vitu, Paris and moving to 190 rue Lecourbe, Paris just before WWII. They named the company "Vera" which is Russian for "confidence in the future" and started by producing the "Vera Picture Puzzle".
It seems extraordinary that they were able to expand their manufacturing operations just as so many of the established firms were ceasing production of wooden jigsaw puzzles in the post WWII era. Perhaps this was the very key to their success, fulfilling a demand for good quality wooden puzzles, when supply elsewhere was so reduced. The "Rex Vera" in blue boxes and "Royal Vera" in red boxes were introduced in the late 1940's. the latter being a premium product with line cutting. The "Apollo" range was introduced in 1957, followed by "Arte Moderne" in 1962. All were made to a very high standard and supplied in superb made to last boxes. Generally using excellent quality prints and a wide range of cutting styles, they are still highly prized by puzzle lovers around the World.
Alexandre's son Robert took over running the company in 1961 and created the "Fair Play" Co. with exclusive rights to import toys and games from major foreign manufacturers. This was successful until 1977 when the company was sold to the Mettoy group. In 1980 Mettoy itself went bankrupt and Vera was obliged to cease trading. Full details on Vera's history and its produces can be read in the publication "Établissements Vera" written by Denis Charvériat (ISBN 978-2-9547321-0-7).
Very special thanks to my friend Jacques Vélu for the huge amount of help in preparing this album.
Update Feb 2011.Many thanks to JD for an update over the earliest origins of Puzzle Vera, including some details of a Vera Puzzle Miniature dating from as far back as the 1930's.
It seems extraordinary that they were able to expand their manufacturing operations just as so many of the established firms were ceasing production of wooden jigsaw puzzles in the post WWII era. Perhaps this was the very key to their success, fulfilling a demand for good quality wooden puzzles, when supply elsewhere was so reduced. The "Rex Vera" in blue boxes and "Royal Vera" in red boxes were introduced in the late 1940's. the latter being a premium product with line cutting. The "Apollo" range was introduced in 1957, followed by "Arte Moderne" in 1962. All were made to a very high standard and supplied in superb made to last boxes. Generally using excellent quality prints and a wide range of cutting styles, they are still highly prized by puzzle lovers around the World.
Alexandre's son Robert took over running the company in 1961 and created the "Fair Play" Co. with exclusive rights to import toys and games from major foreign manufacturers. This was successful until 1977 when the company was sold to the Mettoy group. In 1980 Mettoy itself went bankrupt and Vera was obliged to cease trading. Full details on Vera's history and its produces can be read in the publication "Établissements Vera" written by Denis Charvériat (ISBN 978-2-9547321-0-7).
Very special thanks to my friend Jacques Vélu for the huge amount of help in preparing this album.
Update Feb 2011.Many thanks to JD for an update over the earliest origins of Puzzle Vera, including some details of a Vera Puzzle Miniature dating from as far back as the 1930's.
© 2008-2025 David Shearer
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