Design errors

Dates and events

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Wrong date Commemoration of the independence of the country. The wrong date 1968 was of course soon corrected into 1960. (NAURU - 1968)


Wrong commomeration King John coould not read nor write, and thus was unable to sign the MAGNA CARTA (GIBRALTAR - 1968)


Wrong commemoration On his way to Sweden, President Tubman chose to stay in Paris, and never went to Sweden ! (LIBERIA - 1958)


Wrong commemoration When Colombus arrived in America, he was not accompanied by a priest ! (SPAIN - 1930)


Wrong commemoration The Judo worldchampionship, foreseen in September 1977 in Barcelona, was cancelled for political reasons. (SPAIN - 1977)


Wrong commemoration During the Wilderness battle the smog was so heavy that no cannons could be used. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - )


Wrong commemoration The West Africa Cup was cancelled short after this stamp was issued. (GHANA - 1959)


Wrong commemoration Celebration of the centenary of the baseball game. But it is proven that this game already existed in England in 1744. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1939)


Wrong commemoration Celebration of the Texas centennial in 1936. But it was only in 1845 that Texas became part of the United States (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1936)


Wrong design Centennial of the discovery of gold by James B. Marshall at Suttons Field : the stamp shows the site with a large double-trunked tree of a species not even found in this area at that date. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1948)


Why planes ? There were no planes in the sky during the parade organized to celebrate the liberation of Paris. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1945)


Changed design The design of this stamp was based on a painting by Benjamin West. However 3 people were removed and one added. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1983)


Nice story, but … Stamp commemorating the ride of Sybil Ludington, telling the story on the back of the stamp. This story however has no real historical ground. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1975)


Wrong side ! Stamp picturing the Destroyer Reuben James sunk by a German submarine … seen from a periscope which experts say never was on a German submarine, but belongs to an Allied ship ! (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1991)


Wrong count As the Games of 1916, 1940 and 1944 did not take place, The Munich games were the 17th Olympiade, not the 20th. (FRANCE - 1972)


Wrong time This spatial vessel landed on the moon exactly at 22h02min24sec. The DDR stamp is correct, the stamp from Hungary missed the landing by 10 seconds (HUNGARY - 1959)


Wrong count. Virgilius was born in 70 before Christ. As after the year 1 before Christ follows the year 1 after Christ, this 2.000th anniversary was commemorated one year too early. (ITALY - 1930)


Early anniversary. In 1941, the 1OOth anniversary of this université was commemorated. But twenty years later, they already celebrated the 150th anniversary ! (NORWAY - )


Wrong commemoration This stamp of 1976 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the American Constitution, which was not signed until September 17th 1787. (SPAIN - 1976)


Wrong and inverted. This is not the first landing on the moon on July 21st 1969, but an inverted picture of James Irving, taken during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 (SAN MARINO - 1993)


Too late The Légion d'Honneur was created in 1802. The celebration of its 150th anniversary in 1954 thus was two years late. (FRANCE - 1954)


One year too early. Stamp issued in 1970 to commemorate the centenary of the first stamp. This first stamp however was issued in 1871. (AFGHANISTAN - 1970)


Not quite correct ! Stamp issued to commemorate the discovery of the Cook Islands by Captail Cook. But Captain Cook was not welcomed by the inhabitants and had to run away. (AITUTAKI - 1920)


Wrong plane 10th anniversary of the flight over the South pole by Argentina. This was done by Douglas DC3 planes, not by the featured bombers. (ARGENTINA - 1973)


Wrong revolution The painter Delacroix was born in 1798, and painted the Revolution of 1830, not the French Revolution of 1789. (ARGENTINA - 1989)


One year too early Stamp issued in 1934 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the city of Melbourne. The city however was founded in 1835, not in 1834. (AUSTRALIA - 1934)


Wrong commemoration Stamp issued in 1951 to commemorate '100 year Responsible Government in Victoria'. The Constitution, however, was only adopted in 1855. (AUSTRALIA - 1951)


Modernisation The British registration letters G-AUSU in 1928 were substituted with the Australian VH-USU letters of 1958. And in 1928, this plane had only two-bladed propellers, not three as shown here. (AUSTRALIA - 1958)


Wrong location The place where Governor Phillips planted the flag 300 years ealier was not situated near the coast, but more than 1 mile iside the country. (AUSTRALIA - 1979)


Wrong uniform When Pelé scored his 1000th goal, he was not playing for the Brazilian team, but for his home team Santos. (BRAZIL - 1969)


60 or 75 ? Barbados belonged to the British Empire. In England, a Diamant anniversary means 60 years, not 75. (BARBADOS - 1986)


Wrong name Commemoration of the first Belgian stamp. In the lower left corner, the name of the engraver was added : Jacques WIENER. In fact the first dies of this stamps were prepared by the Englishman J.H. ROBINSON. (BELGIUM - 1925)


Wrong years Schumacker : as the years he became worldmaster were wrong, a new stamp was issued. (AUSTRIA - 2006)


Wrong celebration 500th anniversary of the Tudor dynasty : but the Queen Mother descends from the Glomis, and King Georg VI from the Windsor House. (BELIZE - 1984)


Not the right person Wilfred LAURIER was chosen to illustrate a stamp commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Confederation. Even if he became Prime Minister, at the time of the Confederation he was a journalist strongly opposed to it. (CANADA - 1927)


Wrong anniversary The celebration of the 200th anniversary of this postal service in 1963 is not correct as it started in fact in 1693 and was officially recognised in 1705. (CANADA - 1963)


Wrong flag The Scottish settlers could not carry the Royal Banner at their arrival in Canada, as this flag was only allowed to accompagny the king himself. (CANADA - 1973)


Wrong place This stamp commemoratiing the First Internationalwas intended to show St Martin's Hall, Long Acre, where the International Working People Union was founded in 1864. By mistake this stamp bears an illustration of the St Martins-in-theField's church ar Trafalgar square. (CHINA - 1964)


Wrong bicycle This is a competition bicycle. But at the 2nd national Worker's game in 1985, it was decided to use ordinary bicycles. (CHINA - 1985)


Wrong name The girls are wearing shirts marked 'worker'. However no team was actually called a worker team, the shirts had the name of the participating regions and associations. (CHINA - 1985)


Wrong route The route taken by Magellan, during his trip around the world is not accurate. Particularly his stop at Rio de Janeiro is not mentioned. (COOK ISLANDS - 1975)


Two years too late Celebration of 100 year egyptian railways in 1956, but a railway already was in use in 1854 between Cairo and Alexandria. (EGYPT - 1957)


One year too late The French National Academy of Medecine was founded in 1820. So this stamp, issued in 1971 to celebrate the 150th anniversary came one year too late. (FRANCE - 1971)


Wrong anniversary The Systema Naturae was written in 1735. Commemorate the 200th anniversary on a stamp issued in 1958 isvery strange. (GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1958)


Much too early Stamp issued in 1965 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Leipzig Spring Fair. Although Leipzig was founded in 1165, the fair privileges where only given by Maximilian I in 1497. (GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1965)


Too early Documents show that this castel alreaydy existed in 1080, not earlier. (GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1966)


Much later The Leipziger Messe was founded by Maximilian I in 1497, not in 1165. (GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1965)


Not so old 'Leipziger Messe 800 Jahre' : Leipzig was founded in 1165, but the Fair got its privileges from Maximilian I only in the year 1497. (GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1964)


Cancelled Stamp issued to commemorate the ‘Reichsparteitag des Friedens’ in 1939. But as the war had already started, the event was cancelled, (GERMANY - 1939)


Wrong period The stamp claims to illustrate the year 1475, the armours however are from the 16th century which can be seen at the knee protection and the types of lances. (GERMANY - 1975)


Not a member In 1972, TONGA (red flag with a red cross onb a white square) was not a member of the South Pacific Commission. (GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS - 1972)


Wrong city The 20th Summer Olympic Games in 1972 were held in Munich, not in Ausburgo. (GUINEA - 1972)


Hidden error 33th anniversary instead of 46th. The error was detected and the wrong figure hidden by a golden strip. (AFGHANISTAN - 1964)


Missing century This stamp marks the bicentenary (not the centenary) of the birth of Stradivarius (1644-1737). (ITALY - 1937)


Five centuries This stamp marks the 600th anniversary, not the centenary as labelled, of the death of Giotto di Bordone (1266-1337). (ITALY - 1937)


One year too late This stamp commemorates an anniversary in 1963, but was only issued in 1964. (ITALY - 1964)


Two anniversaries Two anniversaries for the same organisation ? The Salvation Army was fouded in 1865 as the Christian Mission and did not adopt its present name till1878. (JAMAICA - 1965/8)


Not historical correct Jesus Garcia Corona heroically drove his burning train loaded with dynamite, out of the city of Nacozari, where it exploded, killing Garcia and only twelf others, instead of half the city. The hero however did not die in the arms of is wife, in fact no parts of his body were recovered. (MEXICO - 1957)


Nor credible 100 years of brewing in Mexico ? Must have been much longer ! (MEXICO - 1990)


Impossible Five centuries of mining in Mexico ? As can be proven by the many objects in gold, silver, and bronze, this cannot be correct. (MEXICO - 1991)


Two errors When captain Cook landed at Poverty Bay, his ship was ancored half a mile from the shore, not close as on the stamp. And the man are pushing and pulling the boat in opposite directions. (NEW ZEALAND - 1935)


Not original Stamp comemorating a landing of troops at Anzac Cove Gallipoli during the first world war. But the soldier is from a photograph of a 1936 soldier in old uniform, and the beach is actually Karaka Bay, in Wellington harbor. (NEW ZEALAND - 1936)


Strange commemoration Roberto Sacasa was president from 5 Aug 1889 till 1 Jan 1891 and from 1 Mar 1891 till 11 Jul 1893. It is strange to issue a stamp to celebrate the last day of his presidency. (NICARAGUA - 1903)


One year later This battle took place in 1777, not in 1776. (MONTSERRAT - 1976)


Wrong number When Admiral Blight was cast adrift from the Bounty by the mutineers, he was accompgnied by eightteen companions, not three. (PITCAIRN ISLANDS - 1967)


Very old Stamp issued to celebrate the 90th anniversary of TITO. But the stamp mentions 90+ centenario what means 90th centenary of ... 9000 years. (SAINT TOME AND PRINCIPE - 1982)


No historical link The death of Davy Crockett in The Alamo, though a heroic event, can hardly be linked to one of the visits of the Halley comet. (UGANDA - 1985)


Premature commemoration Stamp issued to mark the National Recovery Act in 1933. But this Act was declared unconstitutional and thrown out by the Supreme Court in 1935. Furthermore a man with a missing leg. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1933)


Missing flag General Leclerc had declared that he would not enter Strasbourg again, without the French flag at the top of the cathedral. This was forgotten on this stamp, not on others. (FRANCE - 1969)


Wrong direction The city GAETA was disctructed by cannon fire from the sea and the beach. On the stamp the canon are firing to the open sea. (ITALY - 1961)


Not present Greece, Norway and Armenia did not partecipate to the World Cup 2006. (ARMENIA - 2006)


Wrong clothes The sign the Treaty of Waitangi was reported by an eye-witness who reported that 'Captain Hobson came in civilian clothes, having no time to don more of his uniform than a cocked hat'. On the stamp however, he his featured in full military uniform. (NEW ZEALAND - 1940)


Wrong clothing The sign the Treaty of Waitangi was reported by an eye-witness who reported that 'Captain Hobson came in civilian clothes, having no time to don more of his uniform than a cocked hat'. On the stamp however, he his featured in full military uniform ... without hat. (NEW ZEALAND - 1974)


Not present Landing of Lewis and Clark on the banks of the Mississippi in 1804. Behind stand their guide, the ShoshoneIndian girl Sacagawea and her husband Charbonneau, a Canadian trapper, who in fact did not join until the following month. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1954)


Wrong ship, wrong year Stamp showing the Koenigsberg at Aldabra in 1915. However the ship that was portrayed is in fact the Koenigsberg II, and the date should have been 1914, not 1915. (SEYCHELLES - 1969)


Not the first Labeling the flights of the Wright Brothers the 'first powered flights' is not quite correct, as a lot of people before them experimented with flying engines. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1953)


Out of proportion This stamp commemorates the centenary of the constuction of a Niagara railway bridge, The mention 'A century of Friendship United States - Canada' is out of proportion. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1948)


During the night General Washington and his army crossed the East River under cover of darkness and in dense fog, not in bright daylight as shown. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1951)


Not historical The horns on the Viking's helm are a modern artist imagination, they never existed in reality. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1982)


Not historical The horns on the Viking's helm are a modern artist imagination, they never existed in reality. (SWEDEN - 1983)


Twenty years before Centenary of trade by mail, but already in 1850 some postal trade offices already existed in the Main. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1972)


One year too late Louis Pasteur was born in 1822. Why wait till 1973 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birthday ? (FRANCE - 1973)


Missing country This stamp honours the Liberators of France, but forgets the Canadian flag, despite the thousands of Canadese soldiers that partecipated to D-Day. (FRANCE - 1994)


Wrong inscription Wrong : 200 anniversary of the birthday of the inventer of braille's alphabet - More correct should be : 200th anniversary of the birth of the inventor of Braille's alphabet. (SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - 2008)


Too early Stamp issued in 1934 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of São Paulo . The city however was founded in 1554. (BRAZIL - 1934)


Wrong quote Armstrong made an error while pronouncing his historical words : instead of 'That is one small step for a man', he said 'That is one small step for man'. (AJMAN - )


Wrong commemoration This is not the commemoration of 100 year of Labour Movement, but the celebration of 100 years Swedish Socialist Party. (SWEDEN - 1989)


Not the first The first projection of motion pictures did not take place in America in 1894, but in France in 1895. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1944)


Two years ealier The first settlers already arrived in Connecticut in 1633. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1935)


Unclear commemoration The stamp did not mention us the real reason of the issue : the first birth in America of a child born from English parents. (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - 1937)


Wrong celebration The stamp celebrates the harvest, but the farmers are ploughing, not harvesting. (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - 1989)


Inadapted backgroung In the background, some streetviews of the city of Atlanta, although no football match was played in that city at the Olympic Games of 1994.. (GUINEA - 1994)


Additional mast The Nina, used by Columbus for his discovering trip to America had only two masts. (ANDORRA - 1992)


Wrong type Centennial stamp of 1954 showing an engine with a cab, that was not in use before 1861. (NORWAY - 1954)


Less panache Napoleon leading his army through the St Bernard Pass on a white horse? Maybe on a painting of David. In fact, he travelled more safely, but with less panache, on a ... mule ! (CHAD - 1970)


Wrong commemoration The first manned ascension in a balloon already took place in France in 1783, not in Russia in 1731. (RUSSIA - 1956)


Copy/paste According to this stamp, Neil Armstrong´s famous words, when he touched the moon surface, seem to have been copied from Columbus 500 years ago ! (COMORO ISLANDS - )


Wrong commemoration The Portuguese airline carrier was founded in 1945 and privatised in 1953. The commemoration of the 35th anniversary in 1979 is not correct. (PORTUGAL - 1974)


Wrong commemoration The Portuguese airline company was founded in 1945, and became a private company in 1953. The commemoration of the 10th anniversary in 1963 is thus not correct. (PORTUGAL - 1963)


Wrong date The reunification of Germany took place on October 3rd 1990, not on November 10th 1989 (NIGER - 1991)


Wrong anniverary 20th anniversary in 1988, however the first landing on the moon took place in 1969 (GUYANA - 1988)