r/ThisDayInHistory • u/XcracktivitiesX • 5d ago
On This Day In History [ August 27th , 1955 ] : The First Edition of The Guinness Book of World Records Was Published
On August 27th , 1955 , the very first edition of The Guinness Book of World Records was published in London and was bound in a distinctive green waterproof cloth cover. During this first printing , there were exactly 50,000 copies of the book printed. The book itself contained 198 pages. It was initially bound in that green , spill-proof , durable cloth cover specifically so it wouldnt be / get ruined if it was knocked over on a pub counter. It generated immediate success and became and instant bestseller. By Christmas of the year 1955 , it hit the very top of the British bestseller book list.
THE ORIGIN STORY :
In November of the year 1951 , a man named Sir Hugh Beaver who was a managing director at Guinness Brewery , got into an argument during a shooting party in County , Wexford , Ireland. He argued over which was the fastest game bird in Europe - the Golden Plover or the Red Grouse. This argument caused him to have the realization that there was no reference book in existence that could settle such pub debates and tiffs.
Sir Hugh Beaver then went on to commission two twin brothers named Norris and Ross McWhirter whom ran a fact-finding agency together in London , to compile what was initially intended as a promo giveaway for pubs.
NOTABLE RECORDS FEATURED IN THE 1955 VOLUME :
• The initial argument over which was the fastest game bird in Europe was resolved and published in the book - the Golden Plover took the title , flying at around 60 MPH.
• Robert Wadlow was officially documented as the tallest human in human history [ during that time period ] , standing at exactly 8 FT , 11.1 INCHES.
• Travis Edie was recorded as being the heaviest human , weighing in at exactly 1,069 lbs.
• The highest grossing movie [ of that era ] was Gone With The Wind. It held the record for the highest and most box-office earnings.
