Problemes en Action

French: n.p., 1825. Very good. 11 engraved cut-out figures or objects including ferryman, three couples, wolf, goat, cabbage and boat, to be slotted into boat, , original box with engraved pictorial label colored by hand, A rare children's game, possibly printed by the Parisian publisher Nepveau. Contained in the box measuring 14cm x 7cm x 1cm is a complete set of figures for the two river crossing puzzles known as the 'Jealous Husbands Problem', and 'Goat, Wolf and Cabbage'. The earliest account of these puzzles is in the 9th century manuscript "Propositionnes ad Acuendos Juvenes", (Problems to Sharpen the Young), attributed to Alcuin. In both puzzles there are only two places in the boat. In the Jealous Husbands Problem, no woman can be with another man unless also accompanied by her husband. In Goat Wolf and Cabbage, the wolf will eat the goat and the goat will eat the cabbage unless they are guarded by the boatman.
Originally accompanied by counters and an instruction sheet, now lost. The box is lightly worn else in very good condition; the figures are in fine condition, except the boat, which has been repaired, and the cabbage, which lacks the lower part of its insertion tab, and one female figure lacks a hand. Rare.