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World's Best Selling Book Reaches 100-Million Mark
Guinness World Records is celebrating its 100 millionth copy! This confirms that, excluding non-copyright works such as the Bible and the Koran, the definitive book of world records is the world's best selling book. It was first published in October 1955 by Guinness Superlatives, a subsidiary of Arthur Guinness Son Co. (Park Royal) Ltd and has since gone global, selling in some 37 languages.Comparatively, the five Harry Potter books to date have sold over 100 million copies, and Mao Tse-Tung's Little Red Book was sold or given away to around 900 million.
A STACK OF BOOKS 282 TIMES HIGHER THAN EVEREST!
Since it was first published back in 1955, Guinness World Records has gone to become the world's best-selling copyright book. If you laid evey copy end to end, you could circle the globe from London to Toyko to San Francisco and back to London again! You could carpet the whole of Monaco – twice! – and a stack of books would reach higher than 282 Mt Everests! To mark the issuing of the 100 millionth copy, the original editor, Norris McWhirter, signed the book, and it will be auctioned later this year for charity.
Publishing Records from GWR: “Highest Annual Earnings For An Author”
According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2002, Harry Potter author J K Rowling's net worth increased from £65 million ($93 million) in 2001 to £226 million ($325 million) in 2002. The increase was largely as a result of royalties from the hit film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but book sales and merchandising also contributed.
Rowling's fortune now makes her Britain's wealthiest woman in showbiz – and she sits 11 places above Queen Elizabeth II!
LARGEST FIRST-EDITION PRINT RUN… The release of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on June 21, 2003, marked the largest first-edition print run in history with 8.5 million copies.
More random records, from the GWR website:
LARGEST FEET... If cases of elephantiasis are excluded, then the largest feet currently known are those of Matthew McGrory (b. May 17, 1973) of Pennsylvania, USA, who wears size 28 1/2 US shoes (UK size 28).
LONGEST JOUNEY BY SKATEBOARD... The longest recorded journeys by skateboard were completed by Jack Smith (USA) in July 1976 and July 1984, when he covered just under 4,830 km (3,000 miles) between Lebanon, Oregon, and Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.
LONGEST EAR HAIR... Radhakant Bajpai (India) has hair sprouting from the centre of his outer ears (middle of the pinna) that measures 13.2 cm (5.19 in) at its longest point.
About GWR
In 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, then the managing director of the Guinness Brewery, went on a shooting party and became involved in an argument. Which was the fastest game bird in Europe – the golden plover or the grouse? He realized then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove popular. He was right!
Sir Hugh’s idea became reality when Norris and Ross McWhirter, who had been running a fact-finding agency in London, were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records. The first edition was bound on August 27, 1955, and went to the top of the British bestseller lists by Christmas that year.
Since then, Guinness World Records™ has become a household name and the global leader in world records. No other enterprise collects, confirms, accredits and presents world record data with the same investment in comprehensiveness and authenticity. As the Keeper of the Records, I maintain a vigilant watch to guarantee the accuracy and relevance of each and every Guinness World Record™, and my team of researchers operates with unswerving impartiality and commitment to veracity. A fact may only become a Guinness World Record™ when it’s tested, verified and elevated above all suspicion.
The book has gone on to become a record breaker in its own right. With sales of more than 94 million copies in 100 different countries and 37 languages, Guinness World Records™ is the world’s best ever selling copyright book!
- Stewart Newport,Keeper of the Records