Typos?!

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christian

It might be easy to make assumptions about possible printer's errors. Here is a play called ''A chip of the old block' - we might think it an error, but perhaps it really is the title and may be an intentional pun? We'd have to check other sources (newspapers, periodical reviews, modern reference works on drama and theatre)
Be great if people find some other examples of typos - explicit or ambiguous - and add links or transcriptions here on the discussion forum.
Here's a link to 'A chip of[f] the old block'
http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589092.0x000002#?cv=108

alexmendes

Just edited the above to fix the image link - for now, you can get this by using the 'Copy Image URL' button at the top left of the viewer.

christian

alexmendes Thanks Alex, just followed that method to attach another link.

christian

Discover new genres .... MEEO-DRAME !!

http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589092.0x000002#?cv=176

christian

School of Reform; or, How to rule a Husdand' - printer's typo spotted by an anonymous volunteer
http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589132.0x000002#?cv=99

husdand.jpeg

martinmaryska

christian May it be "Husdandy"?

christian

Volunteer, Rita Harris, had spotted another printer's error: 'Wedesday'

wedesday.jpeg

http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589078.0x000002#?cv=61

saksupple

Looking at 'A chip of[f] the old block':

I searched for 'chip block' (without quotes) on http://blplaybills.org and found mutliple playbills with 'Chip of the old block' at Theatre Royal Haymarket between 1809-1815, 1816-1822, 1794-1819.

More interesting, the same play with the same spelling is on a playbills for Colchester, Covent Garden, Birmingham, Liverpool...

May be the accepted spelling at the time?

Frisby

saksupple Having attempted an unsuccessful search on the web for a copy of the play I have found the following which supports your suggestion that it was an accepted spelling;

In 1818 'A Chip of the Old Block; or, the Village Festival; a Musical Farce, in two acts, by E. P. Knight, Comedian' was being published by C Chapple

Regarding the origin of the phrase 'a chip off the old block', originally the phrase was 'chip of the same stone' (first used in 1621) and this was shortly followed by 'chip of the old block'. This phrase appeared in John Milton's An apology against - A modest confutation of the animadversions upon the remonstrant against Smectymnuus, "How well dost thou now appeare to be a Chip of the old block." (courtesy of https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chip-off-the-old-block.html)

saksupple

Frisby

Thanks - good to know the derivation.

For info, here are a couple of links to playbills that show the play.

From blplaybills.org:

Hatmarket:
http://storage.googleapis.com/blplaybills.org/large2/lsidyv4045b355_477.jpeg

Covent Garden:
http://storage.googleapis.com/blplaybills.org/large2/lsidyv3fa2b3ff_383.jpeg

Same ones on the BL viewer:

http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022588919.0x000002#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=11&xywh=-975%2C0%2C4570%2C4688

http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022588811.0x000002#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=136&xywh=-915%2C-1%2C4616%2C4735

johnjo

Dover spelled Dovor! A surprising mistake.
http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589112.0x000002#?cv=225

johnjo

johnjo and again!
http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589112.0x000002#?cv=245

Frisby

johnjo This isn't a typo, I've researched my family history in Kent and Dovor/Dover appear to be interchangeable, I've seen both being used on official documents in the area until at least the mid-19th century.

saksupple

johnjo
Looks like it might have been the accepted spelling.

Search for dovor at http://blplaybills.org and there are lots of playbills over a many years with that spelling.

mia

@johnjo it's surprising, isn't it! I've also seen variations of Devonport on the playbills.

johnjo

That is really interesting. It stood out as most examples are spelled Dover. I have learned something today!

christian

martinmaryska sorry for late reply: yes! that could make sense - good term!

johnjo

http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589100.0x000002#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=306&xywh=-3566%2C-101%2C9668%2C6403

screenshot-2020-05-14-mark-titles-a-collection-of-playbills-from-miscellaneous-wolverhampton-theatres-1794-1819.png

An R too far!

johnjo

johnjo
Not sure if screen shots work....

mia

johnjo image attachments aren't this forum software's best features, that's for sure! Nice typo though!