Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Theme Day: Funny Signs

Lapide Camera di Commercio, LivornoA 230 year old “No playing, no loitering, no standing” sign trying to discourage disorderly presences from the area of the portico of our Chamber of Commerce, then the Royal Customs House.

By Order etc.
It is forbidden for anyone
of any rank and condition
to leave trash, to play games
or to make any loud noise
under and around the Loggia
of this Royal Customs House
under the punishment of capture,
imprisonment and harsh trial,
if disobeying or transgressing etc.
Given by the Criminal Chancery
of the Government of Livorno
21 August 1781


Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

21 comments:

Lowell said...

That's amazing! 230 years old! Incredible! I'll bet it's just as relevant today as it was then, too!

tapirgal said...

It reminds me that even the Romans had signs similar to ours. Some things are universal in both time and sentiment. I'm envious of your city's long history.

Stefan Jansson said...

Ha, luckily for you they didn't have cameras back then...

Kate said...

Has it worked?

Dina said...

Ha, leave it to the Italian blogger to find a 230 year old funny sign.

Day4plus said...

Still the same yesterday as today. No no no !!!.
Good find. MB

Small City Scenes said...

Oops I signed in with the "other" blog. MB

Gunn said...

So life could have been a bit complicated back in those days.... :) Nice spotted anyway.

cieldequimper said...

What about the immondice? Isn't that the same as French immondices ? ;-)

Very classy sign for today!

irinapictures said...

I put the same idea to my post of today. But Livorno sign looks so artistic and so beautiful.

Cezar and Léia said...

They were very severe! :)
Léia

VP said...

@ Kate - It probably worked then, now it's another story...

@ ciel - It's exactly the same, but I thought that a literal translation would be pointless, because most of the terms used are archaic.

Unknown said...

So after reading your answer to Ciel's question I see 'immondizie' is the same 'imundice' I'm thinking about! LOL! Great find, VP!

marshall said...

La Dogana com'era e com'è oggi, trasformata in Camera di Commercio. Angolino delizioso, impreziosito da quell'antica scritta,che la rende comunque luogo d'interesse turistico.

B SQUARED said...

Your laws are pretty harsh.

Lois said...

I guess some things never change!

Kaori said...

Good thing you weren't born then...I wonder if the sound of the camera shutter would be considered loud? :D

joo said...

Sounds serious:)

Hilda said...

230 years old, wow! Though it looks like we never learn.

Halcyon said...

Interesting sign. Please come by and take a look at mine. It's in Italian and I have tried to translate!

Buck said...

A funny sign, a history lesson and philosophy too!
What an incredible post.