Catalogues

Design errors - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
	Pane of 20 stamps to pay tribute to famous personalities and events of the Old West. But instead of picturing the African-American cowboy Bill PICKETT, the stamp showed his brother. The mistake was corrected and a new sheet was issued.

	During the Wilderness battle the smog was so heavy that no cannons could be used.

	The VERRAZANO brigde, was named after Giovanni da VERRAZZANI, and somewhere lost a Z

	The colours of the rainbow are invered.

	The Antarcic continent has been forgotten.

	Madagascar and Iceland were forgotten, and Alaska is much too large.

	The white line showung the antartic trip of Lt WILKINS was drawn in fornt of the ship, then behind the sails.

	The american flag has 13 (seven red and six white) horizontal stripes, not fiftheen.

	There is no white space around the blue square on the american flag

1885	The position of the stamps on the letter shows that the picture was inverted - see the inverted picture

1893	A clean shaven Columbus in sight of land. But a while later, after landing, wearing a magnificent full beard.

1893	Flag and sails in opposite directions.

1898	The painting Marquette of the Indians was renamed Father Marquette on the Mississipi. However the river in the background is the Fox River in Wisconsin.

1898	This stamp was made from a photograph. The farmer on the stamp was still living when the stamp was issued, this is against the rule that forbits the representation of living persons on a stamp.

1902	Bicycle with wheels without spokes, and without brakes.

1908	According to the U.P.U. rules, the value of the stamp had to be written as 2, not TWO. This was corrected, together with the removing of what could be described as an heavy beard.

1909	A pennant on Fultons steamboat on the Hudson river gives it the name of CLERMONT. In fact it was simply registered as North River Steamboat of Claremont, and had no name.

1912	Lower Manhattan skyline appears to have been put onto Staten Island : de designer of the stamp took a postcard showing the arrival of the Kronprinz Wilhelm on her maiden voyage 23rd Feb 1902, and added wrongly the Manhattan skyline.

1920	All countries should be named on their stamps (except Great Britain only bearing the head of the reigning monarch).

1920	With an exception for Great Britain, all stamps mustg bear the name of their country.

1922	A strange way to hold the frontwheel of this motorcycle in position

1922	The flag points in the opposite direction of the smoke of the steamship.

1925	Viking-boat with an American flag.

1926	The flag shown on this stamp did not come into use until June 14th 1777, almost 8 months after the battle of White Plains took place.

1927	On the map, Nova Scotia appears to be attached to Gaspé Peninsula, New Foundland is badly misshaped, and Paris has been moved to the mouth of the Seine.

1928	The design of the East-coast of America is far from reality.

1929	This is not the representation of a lock on the Ohio River, but was taken from a photo of 1920 which showw the Carneige Steel Company's sternwheeler, H.D. Williams in a lock on the Monongahela River.

1931	Greenland has completely disappeared from the face of the earth

1932	An act of Congress of 1875 banned the engraving of likeness of living people upon American stamps. This stamp violated this law, as the two children shown planting a tree were the children of Alvin W. Hall, then Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

1932	Downhill skiing was not a competition at the Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.

1933	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.

1934	The French explorer Jean Nicolet was the first explorer to reach Lake Michigan. As he thought he had landed in China, he put on Chinese clothes to greet the Indians (according to a painting by Edw. W. Deming)

1934	After this stamp was issued, a few sheets with missing perforation were discovered. To avoid speculation a new issue with non perforated stamps was decided.

1934	Letter posted on the Little America Base in Antarctica in Jan 1934. Due to weather conditions the base was isolated from the outside world more than One year, so the letter arrived only in March 1935.

1934	The painting on the wall was slightly moved from the original painting made by Whistler, and flowers were added.

1934	Cinderella based on an existing stamp, made by Gerald King.

1935	The first settlers already arrived in Connecticut in 1633.

1936	Celebration of the Texas centennial in 1936. But it was only in 1845 that Texas became part of the United States

1937	The official name of this region was Territory South of the Ohio, not Northwest Territory

1937	On this stamp 'Stonewall' Jackson is raised to full general, though in fact even in the Confederation army his highest rank was Lieutnant General.

1937	As there was no portrait of this historical person, a living person was taken a model for this stamp.

1937	This farmer is walking on the earth is has just ploughed.

1937	The stamp did not mention us the real reason of the issue : the first birth in America of a child born from English parents.

1939	Celebration of the centenary of the baseball game. But it is proven that this game already existed in England in 1744.

1939	Wrong : TRANS-ATLANTIC - Correct : TRANSATLANTIC

1939	Commemoration of the 300th anniversay of book printing (1639-1939). But this first book was already printed inb october 1638.

1941	To avoid advertising any particular type of plane, this stamp shows a composite type which not only never existed but would never have flown.

1943	Wrong design of the small diagonal blue lines on the Korean flag.

1944	The wind blows the smoke and the American flag in opposite directions.

1944	To not advertise any kind of plane, the stamp shows a non existing mixture of different planes.

1944	The first ship crossing the Atlantic entirely under steam was the Royal William in 1833. The Savannah had also sails, and in fact steamed for only eight hours.

1944	The first projection of motion pictures did not take place in America in 1894, but in France in 1895.

1945	There were no planes in the sky during the parade organized to celebrate the liberation of Paris.

1945	When this stamp wis issued, the featured persones were still living. This is against the rule that no living peoplke may appear on stamps.

1946	Missing leg : only seven legs for two horses.

1947	Stamp featuring the US Fregate OLD IRONSIDES. A careful inspection reveals that the 2 flanking canons bear the British Royal Cypher GR

1947	The portrait of Benjamin Franklin was inverted on this stamp.

1948	An S is missing in MISSISSIPI, on the seal in the middle of this stamp. The designer of the stamp had no other choice than to copy carefully this error.

1948	The Dorchester sunk with the stem first, not with the stern as depicted on this commemorative stamp.

1948	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.

1948	Hidden transportation methods in the triangel

1948	The MACK fire trucks have all a little bulldog on the front.

1948	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.

1951	When this stamp was issued, the big cross on the mountain was not visible anymore

1951	Confusing anniversary, as Diamond in Europe means 60th anniversary, in the States 75th.

1951	General Washington and his army crossed the East River under cover of darkness and in dense fog, not in bright daylight as shown.

1952	Stamp commemorating the birth of Betsy ROSS as the designer of the first Stars and Stripes flag. Historians however agree that she played no part in its design, the claim was made by her grandson long after her death.

1952	In this old car, the driver was seated at the right, not at the left side.

1952	The ship and cannon correspond to the period La Fayette reached America, but both flags are modern ones.

1952	The first Bible was printed by Guterberg in 1455 or 1457, certainly not in 1452.

1952	The soldier on this stamp was still living when this stamp was issued, and this was against the rule that no living person may appear on a stamp.

1953	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.

1953	Wrong : Marbois - Correct : Barbé-Marbois.

1954	Sowing in summertime, as in the nearby field, the corn is ready to be harvested.

1954	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.

1954	Special delivery or not, in any case the stamps have to be obliterated.

1955	The map on the stamp is slightly turned to to left comparing to the exact situation.

1957	Stamp featuring the aircraft carrier FORRESTAL with deck number 88, which is not correct.

1957	The year of birth of Hamilton is given as 1757. This was claimed by Hamilton himself, but in fact he was born in 1755 and tried to mask his illegitimate birth.

1959	The distance between the polar star and the great Bear (Ursa Major) is much longer.

1960	A galloping horse never moves its legs like this !

1962	These kinds of ships were put into service on the Mississipi in 1840, and so did not exist in 1812.

1962	When one sheet was discoverd with an inverted yellow colour, the US post office decided to print the same number of wrong stamps to avoid speculation.

1962	When this first Christmas stamp was issued, some people argued that this was against the constitutional separation between Church and State.

1962	Bayonet incorrectly mounted - located in front of the rifle barrel

1963	The well known magnolia trees at the left front side of the White House were completely omitted. See other stamp.

1963	This is not a Columbia Jays, according to the painting of Audubon, but a Collie's Magpie Jays from Mexico.

1963	Six fingers at the right hand with the umbrella.

1964	This is not a recommended way to carry a gun, with the barrel pointed to your head.

1964	Except for Great Britain, all countries have to mention the countryname on their stamps.

1965	The angel Michael looks more like a flying woman in dark clothes than like an angel.

1966	The U.P.U. rules ask to write the facial value of a stamp in Arabic caracters.

1966	At the end of the second World War Poland became a Republic. From then the crown above the eagle was removed from the coat of arms.

1967	The U.P.U. rules ask to write the facial value of a stamp in Arabic caracters.

1968	Wrong : Leif Erikson - Correct : Liefs Eirickssons.

1969	The U.P.U. rules ask to write the facial value of a stamp in Arabic caracters.

1969	During the first moon landing, the sun was situated at the right side below the earth. The illumination of the earth is thus not correct.

1969	Quite a dangerous position : standing in a boat while passing rapids !

1970	In 1620, when the Pelgrims arrived at their destination with the Mayflower, the Union Jack flag was not yet in use

1972	Bobsled with six persons is not an olympic competition. Furthermore, the olympic rings are not represented correctly.

1972	Centenary of trade by mail, but already in 1850 some postal trade offices already existed in the Main.

1973	Look carefully at the ship on the right, you will see the moon stuck in the ropes of its sail.

1973	Forty millions stamps were printed before it was noticed that AMADEO was spelled AMEDEO. All the stamps were destroyed, and a correct stamp was reprinted.

1974	The prihnt named 'The Road-Winter' was produced and published in 1853, some years before Ives and Currier became partners. It should be credited to Currier alone, like the 'Winter Pastime' on another stamp.

1975	Jupiter is represented upside down

1975	Stamp commemorating the ride of Sybil Ludington, telling the story on the back of the stamp. This story however has no real historical ground.

1975	The exact name of this painting by John Trumbull is 'The battle of Bunker Hill', not Bunker's Hill.

1975	The name of this painting of Henry Sandham is 'Birth of Liberty' , not 'Lexington & Concord1775'.

1976	The 1st stamp of the 4th row of this sheet shows the flag of the State Tennessee, with inverted centerpiece.

1976	The white center part of the flag has to be twice as large as the other two parts. Compare with the other stamp.

1980	Ice hockey goal without cage

1981	A second planet visible from the moon ?

1981	Be careful when using a stamp with this message on a letter. The recipient could take it personally and not not appreciate it.

1983	The design of this stamp was based on a painting by Benjamin West. However 3 people were removed and one added.

1983	This electrocardiogram graph is from a person with an heart disease, perhaps not the best way to promote sport. And the position of arms and legs of the middle runner is incoherent.

1984	This stamp honours Roberto CLEMENTE, the great Pittsburg baseball player. The Pittsburg Pirates however never wear white baseball caps

1986	Missing black colour on one of the booklets, with as consequence a missing postmark on one of the stamps

1986	The 'Little Navigator' has been reversed from the original statue in the New Bedford Museum, and is therefore, performing an impossible function, holding the octant in his left hand.

1986	The green 2C Washington stamp was issued on Sept 10 1887. The cancellation date shown on the stamp is June 10, 1886, one year begore the stamp was issued.

1987	No appearance of propellers on the right engine of this plane

1987	The designer of this series of Literary Classics used his daughters, son and wife as models for those four stamps. This is in violation of the US law stating that no portrait or likeness of any living person is allowed on stamps.

1987	The third soldier from the bottom is not holding a rifle with bayonet, but a very long sword.

1988	The exact name of this helicopter is Vought-Sikorsky VH-300, the stamp mistakenly gives it the name Vogt.

1988	Strange representation af the american flag as the blue part does not cover a complete side of the flag.

1989	According to some rumors,which of course were denied, the designer of this stamp featured President Bush sr. Dressed as a postman.

1989	Airmailstamp with inverted French flag (red color at the left side instead of blue).

1989	The animals on this stamp are not Brontosaurus but … Apatosaurus.

1989	On the original drawing, a black child is holding a white one. A French stamp from 1989 shows it correctly, but on the American one, no risk was taken, with two white chiildren.

1991	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 !

1991	Madagascar and Iceland were forgotten on this map.

1992	Stamp issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1.500 miles highway linking British Columbia to Alaska. Comparing to the original photo, the straight road has been curved.

1992	In the margin of this stampsheet, it is claimed that The XVI Olympic Games were held between the 8th and 25th February. The correct dates were 8 to 23 February.

1992	Columbus with earthglobe, which was not yet invented at this time.

1992	One of the field players is wearing white gloves on both hands, and the catcher is partecipating to the game with his protection mask.

1992	Errors in map : Ottawa located in the USA, Washington at the seaside. Corrected a year later.

1993	Jim LAMB, the designer of this stamp, used a picture of himself, taken by his wife, to design this stamp. This is in violation of the US law stating that no portrait or likeness of any living person is allowed on stamps.

1993	This spacial vessel, with a combustion engine, makes an impossible turn in space.

1993	As this was not a proferssional way to attach a boat, a new stamp was issued, but this time the boat was attached with a good fisherman's knot

1993	Hidden sign : I love you

1993	Is it because some people did not know anymore who Elvis was, that a new stamp with the complete name Elvis Presley was issued some months later ?

1994	According to the international Skating Union's rules, ladies must wear skirts, they must have skirts and pants covering the hips and posterior. A unitard is not acceptable…

1994	The sigaret was removed on the stamp.

1994	This stamp was designed by Albert Hirschfeld, a cartoonist for the New York Times. He incorporated his daughters name NINA somewhere in the stamp.

1994	This stamp was designed by Albert Hirschfeld, a cartoonist for the New York Times. He incorporated his daughters name NINA somewhere in the stamp.

1994	This stamp was designed by Albert Hirschfeld, a cartoonist for the New York Times. He incorporated his daughters name NINA somewhere in the stamp.

1994	The border inscription says : Many countries celebrate the New Year on the first of the year. This is sloppy writing since every coutnry that celebrates the New Year does so "on the first of the year" ! The question is : by what calendar ?

1995	The sun ernergy does not feed the house, it is the house which is powering the sun.

1998	The buckles of ski boots buckle outward on both feet. This means that the skier on this stamp has two left boots

1998	This is not a 'Western cattle in Storm' but a painting by James McWhirter : Cattle in the Scottish Highlands.

1998	Despite the heavy wind (see flag) the security belts are not fasten.

1999	This stamp depicting a view of the Grand Canyon located in Arizona was first issued mentioning Colorado instead of Arizona. Only after the stamp had been corrected and issued, another error appeared : the complete scene was printed inverted.

1999	Changes comparing to the original picture, as the sigaret was removed.

2001	Stamps issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a famous error from 1901 : three stamps with an inverted centerpiece.

2008	The american flag has seven red and six white horizontal stripes, beginning and ending with red. This one shows forteen sripes

2008	The flag is from Colorado, but the mountain in the background is Mount Helen in Wyoming.

2008	Error in formula : at the bottom right, the connexion is not made with the second oxygen molecula, but with the first one.

2011	The Statue of Liberty pictured on this U.S. stamp is not the neoclassical icon on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, but the replica at the New York Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2013	Reprint by the US Post Office of the famous Inverted Jenny stamp. 95 years ago just one sheet of this stamp was sold before a customer identified the error.

Design errors - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA