This puzzle, September 11, 2001 is the first of a limited edition of two puzzles. It was completed on October 6, 2001, and was sold on eBay for $811.55 with 100% proceeds donated to the September 11th Fund. The second puzzle (#305) was completed on August 25, 2002, for my own collection.

I designed the flag used in this puzzle myself, from scratch, using Adobe Photoshop and specifications per Executive Order No. 10834..

From the auction description and some notes made at the time the puzzle was auctioned:

This is the 14th Custom Puzzle Craft wooden jigsaw puzzle offered for sale on eBay in the ongoing 100 Puzzles Project of almost-monthly auctions, planned to run through the year 2008. This puzzle was hand cut by me, John Stokes, seller of this puzzle.

This puzzle, "September 11, 2001", is a fund raiser puzzle for eBay's Auction America for disaster recovery and aid for the victims of the horrific terrorist attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001. 100% of the winning bid will be donated.

This puzzle features the American Flag. I rendered this Flag from scratch, using the mathematical specifications as described in Executive Order No. 10834. I also used the Pantone colors as described on some websites. This flag is the 1:1.9 aspect ratio version, the version which flies over the U.S. Capitol building.

The puzzle contains 38 figurals, some quite intricate, and many directly relate to the events of September 11, 2001. See below, for a description of all the figurals.

This puzzle measures about 18.05" by 9.5" and contains 424 pieces, cut in my Swirl Curl style with a sprinkling of Creative pieces. Besides the 38 figurals, the puzzle includes my standard signature piece (signed, numbered and dated on the back). I also marked a second piece on the back, indicating the puzzle belongs to the 100 Puzzles Project.

Shipping cost in the US by priority mail is $5.15. Contact me for international rates. For payment terms, please refer to eBay's Auction American program.

This puzzle is a difficult puzzle to assemble and should be considered for purchase by "serious" puzzle enthusiasts. I pushed the envelope in cutting a number of the figurals, some of my finest figurals to date, and they may require special handling, less the delicate tips be damaged.

I conceived the idea for this puzzle on September 14, and after some time spent designing the Flag and designing the figural set, I cut the puzzle in early October. The events of September 11 affected me deeply and I found that working on the initial aspects of this puzzle helped me through the first couple weeks.

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1) 100% of the proceeds from this puzzle will go to eBay's Auction America program for relief for the September 11, 2001 terrorist caused disaster.

2) This puzzle is a limited edition, limited to four puzzles. So far I've made one, the puzzle pictured here, to be auctioned starting today on eBay. I will eventually make a second one for my own private collection. Two more will be available to puzzle collectors, the price has not been determined at this time [Price now set, see above], but not less than the eBay price. None of these one to three additional puzzles will be made this year. This is my final decision on this puzzle. August 2002 Postscript: I ended up making a second puzzle for my own collection, but cancelled the idea to make any more.

The 38 Figurals

Row 1
Pedestrian with briefcase
Fire Fighter's symbol
Letters "USA"
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) symbol
Heart
Candle
NYC Policeman's badge
Portion of NYC Skyline with World Trade Center towers, view from South West, with separate pieces at respective impact elevations
Boeing 767
Eye with Tear (thank you, L. Wilkes)

Row 2
United States map (the 48 states portion)
Eagle (from the reverse of a U.S. Peace Silver Dollar)
Dove (with figural enhancement cut)
Eagle with Shield, holding Olive Branch and Arrows (from the back of a U.S. Dollar Bill)
Letters "NYNY" (New York, New York)
Date: 9 11 2001 (September 11, 2001)
Dollar Sign (to represent the financial district)
U.S. Capitol Building
Fire Fighter's Hat (with several figural enhancement cuts)

Row 3
Musical Note and Clef Note (in the field of Star - representing our National Songs and the musicians who donated time on TV)
A Shooting Star with the star one of the Stars of the Flag
Pentagon
Twirl Star - Clockwise twirl
Twirl Star - Counter Clockwise twirl
Boeing 757
Fireman with Flag (stylized from a widely circulated photograph of three firemen raising the U.S. flag within the ruins of the World Trade Center)
Statue of Liberty (the lady of Freedom)
The White House (with two figural enhancement cuts)

Row 4
The figurals in this row are from other puzzles and are more general in nature
Butterfly
Sail Boat
The Enigmatic Observer
Dog
Owl
Bird, Standing
Bird, Flying
Fleur de Lyse

Signature Piece