They say Leonardo da Vinci had apprentices fill color areas which he would number for them. It was this approach which inspired Mr. J. Daniel Robbins to create “paint-by-numbers” kits in the late 1940s. He worked for the Palmer Paint Company, with Mr. Max Klein.

The kits contained a ‘canvas’ and small pots of paint, coordinated to numbered areas on the canvas. This created a craze for the kits, which covered a range of subjects. Later, Mr. Robbins adapted the idea to coloring books for children.

Rhinos liked the results. However, “as easy as 1-2-3”, the sales pitch, put Rhinos off. The kits mostly went on to other numbers, so We were completely discombobulated.