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?

    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)

        a month later

        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.

          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.

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

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

              a year later
              a month later

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

                  6 days later
                  18 days later

                  Am I right in assuming that where we see a suspected typo, we transcribe the title exactly as it appears and include a note in the "Notice something interesting" box. As opposed to putting [sic] or similar in the transcription. The only thing I have come across recently was "Daimond" rather than "Diamond".

                  • mia likes this.

                  LizD84 thanks for asking! Yes, type them as they are, and add a note if you like. We love a good typo!

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