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Puzzle, The Magic Cube

National Museum of American History

Object Details

LOGIC GAMES, INC.
Description
This puzzle, The Magic Cube, is an early example of what became known as a Rubik’s Cube. It was made in 1980 in the United States and remains in its original packaging, which includes an instruction sheet on a folded piece of paper inserted into the plastic wrapping. For more information about the Rubik’s Cube and other twisting puzzles that use the same or similar mechanisms see 1987.0805.01.
In its solved position each face of the cube (a 3 X 3 square) shows the faces (1 X 1 squares) of nine small cubes, all of the same color. The squares are red, black, yellow, green, orange, and blue. The background plastic of the Magic Cube is white; the later Rubik’s Cubes had black backgrounds.
This puzzle is among Rubik’s Cube related items from the Cube Museum, which operated in Grand Junction, Colorado, from 1988 to 1991.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Cecil Smith
1980
ca 1980
ID Number
2006.0061.01
catalog number
2006.0061.01
accession number
2006.0061
Object Name
puzzle
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 6.1 cm x 6.1 cm x 6.1 cm; 2 13/32 in x 2 13/32 in x 2 13/32 in
place made
United States: Virginia, Haymarket
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Science & Mathematics
Twisting Puzzles
National Museum of American History
Subject
Mathematical Recreations
Mathematics
Record ID
nmah_1301113
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-e22d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Playtime: Toys, Games, and Puzzles

Puzzle, The Magic Cube
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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