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Mistake Collection

"Mistake: A Collection of Unfortunate Events" In 1812, Cuvier mistakenly identified a Hippopotamus skeleton as belonging to an entirely different species

Background imageMistake Collection: 1812 Hippopotamus skeleton by Cuvier

1812 Hippopotamus skeleton by Cuvier
Skeleton of a hippopotamus, fine folio copperplate engraving from Cuviers " Ossamens Fossiles". Cuvier saw that the key to understanding fossils was to relate their bones to animals

Background imageMistake Collection: A Top Notcher

A Top Notcher
Cartoon, A Top Notcher. One of the silly mistakes one makes when paying golf when it snows in Scotland. A short sighted golfer mistakes a bobble hat for the ball

Background imageMistake Collection: Three soldiers in uniform parading outside a tavern

Three soldiers in uniform parading outside a tavern, while a barmaid and man laugh at them. Production at a Alehouse. Handcoloured copperplate engraving designed

Background imageMistake Collection: Chinese Pig-Bonze

Chinese Pig-Bonze
The Chinese bonze Tchou Pa- Kiai is the unhappy victim of an unfortunate mistake during reincarnation, forced to live this life half-pig, half-man

Background imageMistake Collection: 1857 Gosse pterodactyle Bat-Lizards

1857 Gosse pterodactyle Bat-Lizards
1857 Illustration by Philip Gosse for his book " Omphalos" (which sought to explain that the world looked older than Creation because it had to be constructed by God with inbuilt history so)

Background imageMistake Collection: Accident- Snow from Roof

Accident- Snow from Roof
A REGULAR DAMPER - AND NO MISTAKE Having left an exhibition on Swiss avalanches a tatty man suffers a similar fate courtesy of a roof clearer !

Background imageMistake Collection: Bravery at Wattignies

Bravery at Wattignies
At WATTIGNIES, a drummer-boy named Sthrau beats his drum, making the Austrians think they are surrounded. When they realise their mistake, they kill the juvenile hero

Background imageMistake Collection: Tattooing - Drunk Tattooist has got carried away

Tattooing - Drunk Tattooist has got carried away
Tattooing - Drunk Tattooist (Professor Smith) has got carried away... " Its taking you a long time to write I love Annie !" Date: circa 1920s

Background imageMistake Collection: Quote Experience

Quote Experience
Orara Studio

Background imageMistake Collection: St Julian: A patron saint of travelers, who appears to be mythical

St Julian: A patron saint of travelers, who appears to be mythical, said to have killed parents by mistake
535103 St Julian: A patron saint of travelers, who appears to be mythical, said to have killed parents by mistake, and spent life on atonement by helping strangers and travelers

Background imageMistake Collection: Sitting of the Crimean Board of Inquiry, in the Hall of Chelsea Hospital, 1856. Creator: Smyth

Sitting of the Crimean Board of Inquiry, in the Hall of Chelsea Hospital, 1856. Creator: Smyth
Sitting of the Crimean Board of Inquiry, in the Hall of Chelsea Hospital, [London], 1856. Military investigation into the actions of certain British officers during the Crimean War

Background imageMistake Collection: The Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy. 'I have done wrong in coming to ee', 1886

The Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy. "I have done wrong in coming to ee", 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Background imageMistake Collection: The Light Cavalry Charge at Balaclava, 1854. Creator: Unknown

The Light Cavalry Charge at Balaclava, 1854. Creator: Unknown
The Light Cavalry Charge at Balaclava, 1854. Crimean War: disastrous communication breakdown. When Lord Lucan received the order from Captain Nolan, and had read it, he asked

Background imageMistake Collection: The British Steamer 'Bengal' bringing a supposed Russian Prize into Madras Harbour, 1854

The British Steamer "Bengal" bringing a supposed Russian Prize into Madras Harbour, 1854. Creator: Unknown
The British Steamer "Bengal" bringing a supposed Russian Prize into Madras Harbour, 1854. Madras [Chennai in India] was thrown into a state of great excitement by the appearance of a ship

Background imageMistake Collection: Sketches, after 1863. Creator: Jean Francois Millet

Sketches, after 1863. Creator: Jean Francois Millet
Sketches, after 1863

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Two women chatting in the street Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Two women chatting in the street Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Plump woman sitting on man on beach Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Plump woman sitting on man on beach Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Pretty young woman and cow Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Pretty young woman and cow Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Man with large parcel looking for maternity home Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Man with large parcel looking for maternity home Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Woman on the phone - reducing diet Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman on the phone - reducing diet Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Chauffeur and seaside landlady

Comic postcard, Chauffeur and seaside landlady Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Vous savez bien l'éponge que vous disiez.. 1842. Creator: Honore Daumier

Vous savez bien l'éponge que vous disiez.. 1842. Creator: Honore Daumier
Vous savez bien l'eponge que vous disiez.. 1842. Vous savez bien l'eponge que vous disiez que je l'avais perdue; eh bien vous l'aviez mise dans le vol-au-vent de madame Grimblot

Background imageMistake Collection: Caricature of George Leybourne, music hall singer

Caricature of George Leybourne, music hall singer
Caricature of George Leybourne (1842-1884), British music hall singer, described as a lion comique, famous for his song Champagne Charlie. It appears that his death had been mistakenly announced

Background imageMistake Collection: GOLDMARK/SABA LIEBIG 1

GOLDMARK/SABA LIEBIG 1
Act 1 scene 1 : the Queen of Sheba arrives at Solomon's court : Assad, though engaged to Shulamith, falls instantly in love with her, which is a mistake... Date: first performed 1875

Background imageMistake Collection: METRO, ACCIDENT 1903

METRO, ACCIDENT 1903
When a train - made of varnished wood - catches fire near Belleville station, passengers head for safety but mistake their way and 84 die of asphyxiation Date: 1903

Background imageMistake Collection: A tragic game of blind mans buff (colour litho)

A tragic game of blind mans buff (colour litho)
3099127 A tragic game of blind mans buff (colour litho) by Meaulle, Fortune Louis (1844-1901); Private Collection; (add.info.: A tragic game of blind mans buff. Une partie de colin-maillard tragique)

Background imageMistake Collection: Cripps the Carrier (engraving)

Cripps the Carrier (engraving)
1059085 Cripps the Carrier (engraving) by Green, Charles (1840-98) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cripps the Carrier)

Background imageMistake Collection: When he saw the black sail, and not the white one, he gave up Theseus for dead

When he saw the black sail, and not the white one, he gave up Theseus for dead
STC445093 When he saw the black sail, and not the white one, he gave up Theseus for dead, and in his grief he fell into the sea (litho) by Davie

Background imageMistake Collection: Alfred the Great burning the cakes, 878 (colour litho)

Alfred the Great burning the cakes, 878 (colour litho)
5217472 Alfred the Great burning the cakes, 878 (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Alfred the Great burning the cakes, 878)

Background imageMistake Collection: Don Quixote and the Adventure of the Lions

Don Quixote and the Adventure of the Lions
Vintage engraving of a scene from Don Quixote, illustrated by Gustave Dore. The Adventure of the Lions

Background imageMistake Collection: 3c American Authors Ralph Waldo Emerson die proof attached to plate proof, 14612

3c American Authors Ralph Waldo Emerson die proof attached to plate proof, 14612. Certified plate proofs are the last printed proof of the plate before printing the stamps at the Bureau of Engraving

Background imageMistake Collection: The Open Book, 1861. Creator: James Abbott McNeill Whistler

The Open Book, 1861. Creator: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
The Open Book, 1861

Background imageMistake Collection: Chambermaid pulling on a sleeping guests wooden leg

Chambermaid pulling on a sleeping guests wooden leg
5893702 Chambermaid pulling on a sleeping guests wooden leg. by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); (add.info.: Chambermaid pulling on a sleeping guests wooden leg mistaking it for a warming pan)

Background imageMistake Collection: Two men falling off their horses after showing off. Showing Off

Two men falling off their horses after showing off. Showing Off
5893695 Two men falling off their horses after showing off. Showing Off. by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); (add.info.: Two men falling off their horses after showing off. Showing Off)

Background imageMistake Collection: Your father approaches (colour litho)

Your father approaches (colour litho)
3641837 Your father approaches (colour litho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Your father approaches. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Background imageMistake Collection: The death of Gelert, Llewellyns dog, scene from William Robert Spencers poem Beth Gelert; or

The death of Gelert, Llewellyns dog, scene from William Robert Spencers poem Beth Gelert; or
5999071 The death of Gelert, Llewellyns dog, scene from William Robert Spencers poem Beth Gelert; or, the Grave of the Greyhound (litho) by English School

Background imageMistake Collection: Blind Zeal only Causes Harm (coloured engraving)

Blind Zeal only Causes Harm (coloured engraving)
979210 Blind Zeal only Causes Harm (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Blind Zeal only Causes Harm.); © Look and Learn

Background imageMistake Collection: Throwing out the Baby with the Bathwater (colour litho)

Throwing out the Baby with the Bathwater (colour litho)
1092375 Throwing out the Baby with the Bathwater (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Throwing out the Baby with the Bathwater)

Background imageMistake Collection: 'No Mistake!'(engraving)

"No Mistake!"(engraving)
2777095 " No Mistake!" (engraving) by Tenniel, John (1820-1914) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: " No Mistake!" Cartoon, 25 November 1876)

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Chauffeur buying petrol Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Chauffeur buying petrol Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Woman with wrong kind of salts Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman with wrong kind of salts Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Vicar, woman, baby and lodger

Comic postcard, Vicar, woman, baby and lodger Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Two men in an office Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Two men in an office Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Sale of wrong product - customer and barber Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Sale of wrong product - customer and barber Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Men chatting in train compartment

Comic postcard, Men chatting in train compartment Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Woman on the phone

Comic postcard, Woman on the phone Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Comic postcard, Woman waiting in a car - and a horse! Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman waiting in a car - and a horse! Date: 20th century

Background imageMistake Collection: Three masked bandits broke, with revolvers in their hands, in a crowded... (colour litho)

Three masked bandits broke, with revolvers in their hands, in a crowded... (colour litho)
2778046 Three masked bandits broke, with revolvers in their hands, in a crowded... (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)




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"Mistake: A Collection of Unfortunate Events" In 1812, Cuvier mistakenly identified a Hippopotamus skeleton as belonging to an entirely different species. Three soldiers in uniform parading outside a tavern unknowingly became part of a mistaken identity mix-up. "A Top Notcher" - the story of someone who achieved great success but later realized it was all based on a mistake. Tattooing gone wrong. A drunk tattooist got carried away, resulting in regrettable ink choices for their clients. The Chinese Pig-Bronze that turned out to be an imitation, leaving collectors disappointed by their costly mistake. Gosse's 1857 discovery of pterodactyl bat-lizards turned out to be an erroneous classification in paleontology history. An accident caused by snow falling from the roof reminds us how even nature's they can have consequences. Bravery at Wattignies: recounting the heroic acts born out of strategic errors during a historical battle. George Leybourne, music hall singer, immortalized through caricature but forever associated with his infamous blunders on stage. Organist & Choirboy 1904: when musical notes were played incorrectly and harmonies clashed due to human error. Goldmark/Saba Liebig 1: exploring the disastrous financial investment decision that led many into bankruptcy and ruin. Metro Accident 1903: recalling the tragic incident where human negligence resulted in lives lost and lessons learned about safety measures. In life's tapestry they can woven alongside triumphs and achievements – reminding us that growth often springs from unintended missteps along our journey towards wisdom and self-discovery.