1,200 selected photographs from more than 23,000 - 800+ documented references
Ets Vera - wooden jigsaw puzzles and french games (1930-1982)
Why this documentary archive?
Whilst writing my book "Le puzzle français en bois", I came to appreciate the significant role played by Établissements Vera in the small world of French wooden jigsaw puzzles. Its leadership in France was undisputed for nearly half a century; the very engaging personalities of its founders and directors (Alexandre Tchertoff and his son Robert) prompted me to continue my research in an attempt to gain a better understanding of their strategies, their products and their management style.
What You'll Find
Discover Vera and the People Behind the Company
Explore Vera's History
Follow the Major Stages of Its Development
Meet the Illustrators, Companies, Partners and Distributors Who Worked with Vera
Discover the Key Role of Kay Kamen and all Walt Disney Characters Featured by Vera
Understand the Coding System Used for the Entire Vera Product Range
The Key Names Since the Beginning of the 20th Century
Following in the footsteps of their predecessors Jeux et Jouets Français (JJF), Stanislas Esman and Alphonse Brepson, they turned the wooden jigsaw puzzle into a true art form. Alexandre et Robert Tchertoff, Marie Kincouloff, Michèle Wilson, Sophie Ollé-Laprune and Julien Vahanian would later take up the torch, much to the delight of enthusiasts of this unique pastime.
Many thanks to
Francis Tchertoff (one of the founder’s grandsons), Didier Ghez, Véronique Sevestre of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Michel Boutin for their invaluable help.
Any further information is welcome at the following email address: contact@puzzle-vera.fr
There are indeed still some references, dimensions and photos missing… which have not yet been recorded. A great deal of information is ‘to be confirmed’.
I therefore need the help of all Vera enthusiasts.
Thank you in advance.
PS : The English translations included in this work were produced with the assistance of DeepL and ChatGPT.
Essential References on Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles and Their History
For more than a century, manufacturers, collectors, museums and specialists have helped preserve the history of wooden jigsaw puzzles. Here are some of the leading references for discovering, understanding and exploring the history of wooden jigsaw puzzles:
France's leading contemporary manufacturer of wooden jigsaw puzzles: Puzzle Michèle Wilson
Internationally recognised collectors: David Shearer (The Jigasaurus), Bob Armstrong (Old Puzzles), James Dalgety (The Puzzle Museum), Alain Rabussier (www.jeuxanciensdecollection.com)…
Specialised museums: Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), Musée du Jouet (Poissy), Swiss Museum of Games…
Specialised publications: The BCD, La Revue du Jouet…
Indexing and Classification
Search our database of people, product ranges, box designs, labels, and puzzle references covering the history of Établissements Vera from 1930 to 1982.
A few figures
A documentary database compiled in collaboration with the national museums and the most recent directors of jigsaw puzzle manufacturing companies (Michèle Wilson, Sophie Ollé-Laprune and Julien Vahanian).
1200 over 23000
+ 800
100%
Photos of brand names, labels, logos, jigsaw puzzles...
part numbers and manufacturing variants
Free public access for all puzzle lovers