The First New York World Crossword Appears
Arthur Wynne's word puzzle appeared in the New York World on December 21, 1913.
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The Event
Arthur Wynne's word puzzle appeared in the New York World on December 21, 1913. It is widely recognized as the beginning of the modern newspaper crossword.
The Wider Story
The early puzzle's shape and instructions differed from many later crosswords. Newspaper publication helped turn a small pastime into a broad reading habit.
Putting the Event in Perspective
Word puzzles existed earlier, so the claim requires that narrower definition.
Reading the Historical Record
A recreation should not substitute a modern app or copy a later crossword grid.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: a 1913 newspaper office with an indistinct diamond-shaped word puzzle on a page. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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