Gibsons

(cross reference with H. P. Gibson & Sons and Gibson Game Company)

From the website of Gibsons Games:

1903 to 1919 -- The International Card Company

In 1903, Harry Gibson managed to obtain an unsecured loan of £500 from the Royal Bank of Scotland in Bishopsgate, London. This princely sum enabled him to start a business, which at that time was called The International Card Co.

Trading from offices in Aldersgate Street, he supplied retailers with a range of products including card games and postcards. It's an unlikely combination these days, but back then, any decent sized town would have a number of Stationers in the High Street and they became Harry Percy's first customers.

1919 to 1940 -- H. P. Gibson & Sons

The International Card business was sold to the De La Rue company and H. P. Gibson & Sons Limited was formed in 1919. The International Series brand, continued to be used on some products, right up to the early 1980's.

H P Gibson & Sons Ltd made its name with the 'HPG' brand of indoor games with old favourites such as L'Attaque and Dover Patrol which became very big sellers before and after the second world war.

Sadly the company's premises, complete with all its manufacturing equipment was destroyed during the blitz in 1940 and when the war ended, it was almost a case of starting from scratch.

Robert and Harry Gibson (jnr.), sons of the founder, re-established trading from Barrett Street in London's West End. The company continued to sell its own family games and pastimes, alongside ranges from other established names, including Waddingtons and Chad Valley.

It wasn't until the late 1980s that Gibsons started producing Jigsaw puzzles. They originally had only six pictures in their range, which has now grown to over 250 titles, running from 2 to 1500 pieces. They specialise in traditional scenes including paintings by many British artists. Quality is very important and Gibsons use the deluxe materials for their puzzles and travel thousands of miles in search of the best pictures. Regular puzzlers will be familiar with their distinctive metallic blue boxes.

Gibsons, now run by the founder's grandson Michael, is the oldest British owned company in the industry and prides itself in the quality of product and service that it continues to provide.