Lot 6086 - Spring's Mistress

Designer/Maker: Tracy Wood Clemons

Box: 15x13x8cm

Notes: Open the box to find secret compartment. Once the lid is removed, the flower petals can also be removed; replacing them properly is also a puzzle. Includes certificate of authenticity and detailed (and annotated) instruction sheet.

Lot 6290 - Winston Freer Tile Puzzle Trick

Designer: Winston Freer

Size: 29x24x2cm

Notes: The Winston Freer Tile Puzzle Trick is a modern classic of puzzling mathematical magic. The trick is performed by successively removing three one-unit blocks, yet each time maintaining the overall dimensions of a 9x7 rectangle. However, unlike the Curry Paradox, on which the trick is based, the pieces fit perfectly (no hidden gaps) in the 9x7 tray both before and after the trick is completed. Some pieces show significant wear. Included 4-page instructions for presenting the trick (see video).

Undocumented provenance: this mechanism was originally owned and used by world-renowned magician Lennart Green, and was subsequently given to G4G-founder Tom Rodgers.

Source: Anonymous

Lot 6300 - Dipole Dilemma

Designer: Chris Morgan
Maker: Walt Hoppe

Tray: 10x10x1cm

Notes: Place the 28 magnets flat into the 5x5 tray opening. There are two unique solutions. This was Chris Morgan's IPP25 Exchange puzzle.

Lot 6301 - Cube Wrapper

Designer/Maker: Hirokazu Iwasawa

Block: 6x6x6cm

Notes: The goal is to wrap the cube completely so that all the faces are covered, despite the holes in the wrapper. The was Iwahiro's IPP38 Exchange puzzle.

Lot 6302 - FourKnot

Designer/Maker: Oskar van Deventer

Diameter: 2cm

Notes: Connect the five 3D-printed "rope" segments to form a complete loop. Made from "3D-printed rope", which is actually transparent PLA with fine mahogany wood grain mixed in. Each piece end has opposite polarity, enforced by knobs and magnets. Includes information/solution sheet.

Lot 6303 - Morph II (O'Beirne's Cube)

Designer: T.H. O'Beirne
Maker: Pelikan (pieces), Buttonius (box)

Size: 6x5x5cm

Notes: This is an elegant puzzle and presentation, with an intriguing back-story. Peter Hajek's notes:

In 1961, Thomas O'Beirne described in his New Scientist column (224, 560-1) a fantastic cube dissection. Six irregular pieces formed a cube and five other different rectangular cuboids. Surprisingly, it went largely unnoticed, probably because of difficulties in making the set. O'Beirne did not include it in his 1965 book Puzzles and Paradoxes and it remains little known and appreciated.

I got interested in this puzzle via my earlier encounter with its much simpler but very pleasing pre-cursor which first appeared in the book Matematiceskaja Smekalka (Mathematical Know-how) by B. A. Kordemskij published in Moscow in 1954. The readers were challenged to cut an 8x8x27 wooden beam into four pieces which could then be assembled to form a cube. The solution consisted of pieces which could be morphed by simple one-step shifts into a cube and two other rectangular cuboids. I designed a box with three receptacles and some additional tasks to package this as a mechanical puzzle. It was produced commercially by RBA as the Morph Puzzle in 2006.

Morph II is the result of an attempt to do something similar with O'Beirne’s dissection so it is translated from a geometrical curiosity into a mechanical puzzle, and reaches people who will appreciate its elegance. I designed this presentation, Peter Knoppers helped with the construction of the box and laser-cut it and the New Pelikan workshop made the puzzle pieces. The non-morphing cube solution was pointed out to me by David Singmaster.

The six pieces can construct 6 different shapes (the cube two different ways). The box, when constructed, will have 6 different template rectangles on its faces, giving implicit and unique instructions for each of the target shapes. This was Peter Hajek's IPP32 Exchange puzzle.

Lot 6305 - Split Star Variation

Size: 8x8x8cm

Notes: Similar in construction to Coffin's design #75 (Garnet pieces augmented to form the first stellation of the rhombic dodecahedron). Made from four fancy woods, but no identifying marks. Very good movement and fit, but with a few visible gaps when assembled. Light surface wear; small chips from at least three points.

Lot 6306 - Split Star Variation

Size: 8x8x8cm

Notes: Similar in construction to Coffin's design #75 (Garnet pieces augmented to form the first stellation of the rhombic dodecahedron). Made from four fancy woods, but no identifying marks. Very good movement and fit, but with a few visible gaps when assembled. Light surface wear.

Lot 6315 - Dodecon

Designer: Victor Genel
Maker: Wayne Daniel

Diameter: 11cm

Notes: Three identical pieces assembly to form a stellated dodecahedron. Assembly motion is a beautiful and unexpected coordinate motion. Made from chechen; fit is slightly loose; very light wear with some points slightly dulled.

Lot 6316 - DoveTail Bar

Designer: Norman Sandfield
Maker: Perry McDaniel

Size: 17x7x2cm

Notes: Release the dovetail joint. Made from walnut and maple; point of one dovetail is slightly chipped (see photo). Limited edition of 200; this was Norman Sandfield's IPP20 Exchange puzzle. Interior is signed and numbered.

Lot 6319 - Technitree

Maker: Puzzle Guild

Size: 9x6x4cm

Notes: Vintage 24-piece 3D jigsaw puzzle from early 1930's (per NRA logo). Two pieces found with small internal chips; one small chip is evident and visible in base (see photo); one cracked piece repaired (see photo). Includes original box, with surface wear but otherwise in excellent structural condition.

Lot 6323 - Fortress

Designer/Maker: Jerry McFarland

Size: 11x11x7cm

Notes: 40-piece puzzle reminiscent of the Cube and Quadlock puzzles. Four pieces in the middle and two pieces crossing horizontally hold the key to opening the locking mechanism. Made from mahogany, walnut, and maple. Only 12 made.

Lot 6324 - Cutler First Design

Designer: Bil Cutler
Maker: Jerry McFarland

Stick length: 9cm

Notes: This was Bill Cutler's very first design, from 1960. 18 pieces, made from walnut, cherry and maple, form a chuck-structure; key piece has a spring-loaded ball bearing to keep it in place. Key piece stamped "JM 11". This was the IPP31 Exchange puzzle from Bill Cutler.

Lot 6325 - Galaxy Z

Designer: Osanori Yamamoto
Maker: Pelikan

Size: 9x9x5cm

Notes: Remove the four pieces from the frame.

Lot 6326 - Loopy Burr

Designer: Junichi Yananose
Maker: Eric Fuller

Stick length: 7cm

Notes: Unusual 6-piece burr, made from wenge and maple.

Lot 6329 - Oskar's Blocks

Designer: Oskar van Deventer

Size: 9x9x9cm

Notes: Separate the three cubes.

Lot 6330 - TLN

Designer: Juno Yananose
Maker: Mr Puzzle Australia

Stick length: 15cm

Notes: 12-piece burr; pieces in each direction are arranged with T,L,N tetromino cross-section. Separates into two halves; challenging to assemble. Made from heavy Cooktown ironwood; slightly loose fit. One piece signed, numbered, and stamped with Mr. Puzzle logo. Limited edition of 24.

Lot 6335 - Superstrings

Designer/Maker: Richard Gain

Size: 4x4x4cm

Notes: Two nearly identical pieces interlock to form a cubic shape. This won the First Prize in the 2011 Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition.

Lot 6336 - See-Saw Puzzle Box

Maker: Heartwood Creations

Size: 19x9x4cm

Notes: Unlock the lid; excellent condition with very light wear.

Lot 6366 - Eiger

Designer/Maker: Alfons Eyckmans

Size: 10x10x8cm

Notes: 22 piece, level-30 burr. Excellent fit and movement.

Lot 6367 - Cannich

Designer/Maker: Alfons Eyckmans

Stick length: 10cm

Notes: 18 piece, level-42 burr. Excellent fit and movement (one 10+ moves tested). One piece appears to be inscribed with date edition number. BurrTools file available on request.

Lot 6368 - Hell

Designer/Maker: Alfons Eyckmans

Size: 10x10x10cm

Notes: 30 piece, level-38 burr. Excellent fit and movement.

Lot 6409 - TRICO 90

Designer/Maker: Philippe Dubois

Diameter: 22cm

Notes: 90 pieces form a semi-regular lattice (truncated icosahedron). There are two types of pieces (80mm and 83mm), each with two asymmetrical cuts, adding significantly to the complexity of the assembly. One piece damaged and repaired.

Lot 6410 - Katmon

Designer/Maker: Rex Rossano Perez

Size: 8x7x2cm

Notes: Remove the coin. This contains the "original" Philippine coin.