Ludovici's Dickens Coaching Puzzles

Albert Ludovici, Jr. (b. 1852, d. 1932) wrote in his book, "An Artist's Life in London and Paris" (1926) with respect to the English coaching era:

"I cannot help feeling sorry for the present generation, who have no idea of these good old times, and my only regret is that I did not live in the coaching days, which I have so often tried to depict in my Charles Dickens coaching series of pictures."

Around 1910-11 Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., London, England began to list in its sales catalogs for its Zag-Zaw brand of puzzles a series called "Tuck's Famous 16 Dickens Coaching 'Zag-Zaw' Puzzles" after the originals by Albert Ludovici, Jr. (usually signed "Ludovici") and supplied in two sizes, 400 pieces (20" x 12") and 150 pieces (12" x 7").

With one exception, the series was boxed in the tradtional Tuck box. The one known exception is "Tom Pinch Departs to Seek His Fortune" which is boxed in a special "Dickens Centenary Zag-Zaw" box.

About the same time Parker Brothers, Salem, MA began listing in its sales catalogs for its Pastime brand of puzzles a series called "The Famous Dickens Coaching Pastimes" made "only by Parker Brothers from Fine Imported Plates" in the 350 piece size. By the time of its Winter 1911-12 catalog Parker Brothers was listing 16 puzzles in the series. While some of the names are different from the Tuck series, the scenes are the same 16 Ludovici Dickens coaching prints, probably imported directly from Tuck. Note: sometimes the name on the box may differ from the catalog name. For conclusive identification, compare your puzzle with the pictures displayed above and below. Parker Brothers also made 150 piece versions of some of these scenes, although they are not listed in their catalogs and are rare.

Tuck/Zag-Zaw Cat. No. and Name Comparable Parker Brothers/Pastime Cat. Name
D1 The Meeting of Pip and Estella In the Inn, York Meeting of Pip and Estella in the Inn Yard
D2 David Copperfield arrives in London David Copperfield Arrives in London
D3 Nicholas Nickleby's Departure For Dothboy's Hall Squeers Meets Nicholas Nickleby and Family at the "Saracens Head"
D4 Mr. Pickwick, his Friends and Mr. Alfred Jingle start for Rochester Mr. Pickwick and Friends Start for Rochester
D5 David Copperfield on his way To School Little David Copperfield Weighs Down the Coach
D6 Mr. Pecksniff leaves for London Mr. Pecksniff Starts for London
D7 The Election of Eatanswill The Election at Eatanswill
D8 On the road to Dingley Dell Mr. Pickwick and Friends on Route to Dingley Dell
D9 David Copperfield bids farewell To the Micawber Family David Copperfield Bidding Good-bye to the Micawbers
D10 Mr. Pecksniff and the Misses Pecksniff's return from London Mr. And Mrs. Pecksniff Return from London
D11 Mr. Pickwick and his Friends arrive At the Blue Lion, Muggleton Mr. Pickwick Arrives at the "Blue Lion", Muggleton
D12 Nicloas Nickleby on the road To Dotheboy's Hall Nicholas Nickleby en route for Dotheboy's Hall
D13 David Copperfield's First Sight Of London Little David Copperfield--The Ride Over London Bridge
D14 The Pickwickians leave the Golden Cross for Rochester The Pickwickians leaving the Golden Cross Hotel
D15 Tom Pinch departs to seek his fortune Tom Pinch Departs to Seek his Fortune
D16 The Pickwickians arrive at Eatanswill The Pickwickians Arrive at Eatanswill

Tuck continued to offer the series for many years after 1912, especially in the 150 piece size. Tuck also offered a 300 piece Multiple Zag-Zaw puzzle combining two Ludovici Dickens Coaching scenes (each in the 150 piece size.) Parker Brothers dropped the series shortly after the 1912 centennial of Charles Dickens' birth, while occasionally making 300 to 400 piece puzzles from one of the Ludovici prints. However, in its January 1931 Pastime catalog, Parker Brothers offered a "Dickens Series" of 4 puzzles in the 350 piece size based on Ludovici coaching scenes, all different from the series of 16 offered back in 1912.

While a few other puzzle makers have made occasional puzzles from prints in the series (e.g., Double L's David Copperfield Arrives in London), none have tried to market the entire series of 16.

We have also acquired from England a puzzle with a Ludovici scene depicting Mr. Pickwick attempting to drive a chaise-in-four while Mr. Winkle tries to mount a horse (backward). While not showing a classic 4-horse drawn coach, the picture still might be called a "coaching scene" in the broad sense of the word.

Additional Ludovici Dickens coaching scenes

We have acquired two Ludovici prints depicting what we think are scenes from Charles Dickens' "Pickwick Papers" because both show a short rotund figure in black coat and hat who has the distinctive appearance of other portrayals of Samuel Pickwick. From a study of their catalogs neither Tuck nor Parker Brothers made either scene into a puzzle. We have not seen puzzles cut from these scenes by other makers either. Further identification for these scenes would be appreciated.

Full of the Dickens

An extraordinary puzzle featuring all 16 of the initial series of Ludovici Dickens coaching scenes was presented to me at our San Francisco Puzzle Parley April 2007 as thanks for my contributions to the world of jigsaw puzzles. I recommend you view and study Full of the Dickens for the puzzle is certainly one of the finest ever made and displays not only the 16 coaching scenes but also 25 of Dickens' characters.

This Collection

We have displayed all our Parker Brothers and Tuck versions of Ludovici's Dickens coaching scene puzzles as well as the Double L version. We are partial toward Pastimes and are "missing" the following Parker Brothers/Pastime puzzles in the the 350 pieces size (which we prefer):

  • David Copperfield on His Way to School
  • On the Road to Dingley Dell

We would be interested in purchasing or trading for 350 pc. Pastimes of these scenes as well as for the Tuck version in the series we do not have.  E-mail: We are also interested in identifying Ludovici Dickens coaching scenes in prints or puzzles other than the ones displayed here.

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Maker:
Series: Jig Saw Puzzle
Maker: Isabel Ayer
Series: Picture Puzzle Exchange
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Parker Brothers
Series: Pastime
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Centenary Zag-Zaw
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Coaching Zag-Zaw
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Coaching Zag-Zaw
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Coaching Zag-Zaw
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Coaching Zag-Zaw
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Coaching Zag-Zaw
Maker: Raphael Tuck & Sons
Series: Dickens Coaching Zag-Zaw

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