Useless Collection

1923 German Hyperinflation
A boy and men with a pile of useless Deutsch mark banknotes as hyperinflation hits Germany in 1923

Dornier Do-X Photo 1
First built in 1929, only three of these useless 12- motor flying boats are built, two of them bought in 1931 by the Italian Air Force : here moored on lake Como. Date: 1932

Man in the Kitchen C1905
Letting your husband loose in the kitchen can be very risky; here, a pot boils over, eggshells litter the floor, and the cat laps spilt milk

Armadillo Lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) biting its own tail while trying to roll into a defensive ball, captive, from South Africa

A Dandy Fainting, published December 11, 1818. Creator: Isaac Robert Cruikshank
A Dandy Fainting, published December 11, 1818

Western Scene, Useless To resist
A wartime illustration depicting a western scene in which a cowboy is held up gunpoint upon his horse. Date: circa 1940s

Satire on the ineffective husband (woodcut)
7201585 Satire on the ineffective husband (woodcut) by German School, (16th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Satire on an ineffective husband)

Comic postcard, Conductor and band Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Call yourself a man? I d make a better man than you with a Do It Yourself kit! Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Call yourself a man? I d make a better man than you with a Do It Yourself kit! Date: 20th century

Tower Bridge - the High Road and the Low Road
The High Road and the Low Road: a striking view of the Tower Bridge and its useless superway. The high level footway of Tower Bridge, London

White elephant, page from a manuscript on elephant training (w / c on paper)
LIT389920 White elephant, page from a manuscript on elephant training (w/c on paper) by Thai School; National Library, Bangkok

Clearing Paris of the "Useless"and "Dangerous"(engraving)
2773842 Clearing Paris of the " Useless" and " Dangerous" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Burial Of Sir John Moore (colour litho)
3651559 The Burial Of Sir John Moore (colour litho) by Rainey, William (1852-1936) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Burial Of Sir John Moore)

Buying a substitute in the North during the war, c. 1880-90 (etching)
497524 Buying a substitute in the North during the war, c.1880-90 (etching) by Volck, Adalbert John (1828-1912); 26.1x34.8 cm; Gilder Lehrman Collection, New York

The Generals Quarters, The Castle (b / w photo)
3092307 The Generals Quarters, The Castle (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Generals Quarters, the Castle)

En danger. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1906 (colour litho)
3101434 En danger. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1906 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: En danger)

Pointless Regrets, late 18th century (colour engraving)
CHT164024 Pointless Regrets, late 18th century (colour engraving) by French School, (18th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French

Useless series - The cloth hanger
Wieteke de Kogel

Useless series - The glass
Wieteke de Kogel

Public phones lying on sidewalk
abandoned, broken, communication, communications, conceptual, day, mobile, nobody, outdoor, pay, phone, public, receiver, sidewalk, still life, talk, telephone, traditional, trash, useless

Ancient Armed Briton, c1860, (c1860). Artist: John Leech
Ancient Armed Briton, c1860, (c1860). From The Comic History of England, Volume I, by Gilbert A A Beckett. [Bradbury, Agnew, & Co. London]

Abandoned British trenches and guns at Maubeuge, 1914. The breech blocks of all these guns were removed before being abandoned in order to make each gun useless

Derelict cranes in Royal Victoria Docks, London
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness

Historic cranes in Royal Victoria Docks, London
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness

Two cranes in Royal Victoria Docks, London
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness

Historic cranes in Royal Victoria Docks
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness

Two old cranes in Royal Victoria Docks
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness.The entire Dockland area of East London

Abandoned cranes in Royal Victoria Docks, London
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness

Derelict cranes and moored ship in Royal Victoria Docks, London England
London used to be the greatest port on earth. Now the cranes are silent. Here at the Royal Victoria Docks, they have been left as a reminder of past greatness

Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Troopers sword, 1814 (c); blade is stamped with the makers name, I Gill; the original hatchet blade made this Pattern useless for thrusting

Old Fire Truck, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada

Comic postcard, Woman annoyed with husband for his lack of knowledge Date: 20th century

American anti-gambling cartoon
An American anti-gambling cartoon, showing a Rum-Soaked Old Sport sitting at a table. The verse below ends: It would be very hard to find / A more worthless, useless sample of mankind. Date: 1906

android, broken, camouflage, color image, concept, copy space, cyborg, day, decay
Green loss on obsolete robot in woods

Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany - Caricature
Savage caricature of (useless) son of German Kaiser Wilhelm II, Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany (Friedrich Wihelm von Preussen - 1882-1951)

Dornier Do-X Photo 2
Before the launch : the mighty but useless 12-motor flying boat on a trolley at the factory at Altenrhein. Only three are built, two of them bought by Italy in 1931. Date: 1929

Cartoon, The useless trap, WW1
Cartoon, The useless trap. Kaiser Wilhelm asks Chancellor Bethmann if he thinks the enemy will recognise his dove, which is really a two-headed eagle with white feathers. Date: 1917

Cartoon, Pantagruels victorious return to the court of Gargantua, after extirpating the Soup Meagres of Bouille Land, by James Gillray

Bonzo Finds a Brolly No Earthly by George Studdy
Bonzo Finds a Brolly No Earthly (ie no earthly use), probably because he is sitting on top of it rather than under it. Date: 1923

Cartoon, A Friend at Last, WW1
Cartoon, A Friend at Last. A German cavalryman says to a British slacker who hasn t yet joined the armed forces: Thanks, mein friendt! Your neutrality in the war is most helpful to me

Cartoon, Polish view of German reservists, WW1
Cartoon depicting a satirical Polish view of the German reservist army (or Landsturm) with makeshift weapons including pitchforks during the First World War. Date: September 1914

Jean Ant. Rossignol
JEAN ANTOINE ROSSIGNOL French jeweler turned revolutionary, brave but stupid, useless as a soldier so turned to plotting, unsuccessful, condemned and died in exile in Madagascar. Date: 1759 - 1802

Not so Useless it Looks, Us, Usa, America, United States, American, Engraving 1880

Not So Useless It Looks
Not So USeless It Looks, US, USA, America, United States, American, Engraving 1880

Meadowsweet is a common fen plant, normally found growing amongst other tall herbs. From June to October it is covered in clumps of small, sweet- smelling white flowers. Date: 1930s

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"Unveiling the Useless: A Captivating Collection of Curiosities" Step into a world where history intertwines with absurdity, as we embark on a journey through time and witness an array wonders. From the tumultuous era of the 1923 German Hyperinflation to peculiar photographs and comical illustrations, prepare to be captivated by the sheer futility that unfolds before your eyes. Our adventure begins with Photo 1: The Dornier Do-X, an impressive aircraft from yesteryears. Yet, despite its grandeur, it ultimately succumbed to being nothing more than a relic in aviation history - a testament to mankind's relentless pursuit of progress often leading us astray. Next up is Man in the Kitchen c1905; oh how times have changed. Witnessing this scene reminds us that even back then, amidst culinary chaos or domestic disarray, some things never change - rendering our efforts futile against life's little mishaps. Behold the Armadillo Lizard (Cordylus cataphractus), caught in its own tail-biting frenzy. In this paradoxical display of self-defeatism, we are reminded that sometimes our actions can lead us down endless circles without any tangible outcome. Venturing further into the realm of uselessness brings us face-to-face with Western Scene: Useless To Resist. Here lies a poignant reminder that resistance can be futile when faced with overwhelming odds or insurmountable challenges – an eternal struggle etched into humanity's narrative. Glimpse at Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Troopers sword from 1814; once wielded by valiant soldiers who fought for honor and glory. Alas. Time has rendered it obsolete - now merely serving as a symbol of past valor and reminding us how easily even mighty weapons lose their purpose over time.