4 May 1951 Sir Hugh Beaver - then managing director of «Guinness Brewery» - went hunting in the district Veksford, Ireland. He witnessed a dispute over the fastest bird in Europe, and then I realized that it was impossible to find in books. Then he was struck by the thought that such a book would be popular. The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records "at 197 pages, appeared Aug. 27, 1955, and by Christmas she had already become the most popular book in Britain. Since the first edition has sold more than 400 million copies. The last published book - "Guinness World Records 2010".
1. Joel Bullock of the United States pushes his masterpiece - the biggest ball of rubber bands. Ball weighing 4 097 kg was measured in Loderhille, Florida, November 13, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
2. The largest number of people dressed in Smurfit, was 1 253. These are people who came to the festival "Muknomaniya in Kaslbleyni, Ireland, July 18, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
3. The record for the 100-meter sprint with hurdles was 22.35 seconds. Record-holder was a German Marin Tsonker in Cologne, Germany, September 13, 2008. (John Wright / Guinness World Records)
4. The world's largest pocket knife is in the unfolded state of 3.9 meters and weighs 122 kg. It was designed Telmo Kadavez from Portugal, and is made by hand Virgilio Raul also from Portugal, January 9, 2003. (Guinness World Records)
5. Heaviest lemon in the world weighed 5 kg 265 g and was grown by Aharon Schemel on a farm in Kfar Zeit University, Israel. (Guinness World Records)
6. Scott Murphy of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, bent aluminum pan at 30 cm in diameter in 30 seconds July 30, 2007. In girth received "lump" turned 17,46 cm (Guinness World Records)
7. The largest number of mugs of beer, a woman who has carried 40 meters, is 19. This was done by Anita Schwartz Mezenihe, Germany, November 9, 2008 in the Guinness World Records Day. (Nick Hannes / Guinness World Records)
8. Sam Uekeling drove 453.6 miles on the unicycle for one day in Aberystwyth, Wales, from 29 to 30 September 2007. (Guinness World Records)
9. Jean-Francis Vernetti from Switzerland collected 8 888 different plates "Do Not Disturb" hotel in 189 countries around the world since 1985. (Guinness World Records)
10. The total length of nails Melvin Booth (left) from Michigan, 9,05 meters. Lee Redmont (right), which is not trimmed his nails since 1979 and carefully rasp them to grow up to 8,65 meters, has lost its "wealth" in the accident in February. 68-year-old record-holder said that the most dramatic event in her life, but also recognizes that without them much easier. (Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
11. 227 shirts were put on Jeff Van Dick at the event Unizo in Brecht, Belgium, April 24, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
12. Gary Turner from the UK can stretch his skin on my stomach to 15.8 centimeters, and all because of her syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - a violation of the connective tissue, affecting skin, ligaments and internal organs. This disease strikes collagen, firming the skin and determines its level of elasticity, which leads to a weakening of the skin and increased mobility of joints. In more serious cases it can lead to death from rupture of blood vessels. (Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
13. 1 911 - exactly as many bottles of soda with Mentos were collected in one place - namely, in the Latvian high school students business TURIBA June 19, 2008
14. Biggest Jicama weighs 21 kg and was grown Leo Sutisna in West Java, Indonesia. (Guinness World Records)
15. The largest collection of clones from the game LEGO Star Wars consisted of 35 310 individual models, and was drafted by LEGO in Slough, United Kingdom, June 27, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
16. The oldest man, bungee jumping to is Helmut Wirtz. Wirtz was 83 years 8 months and 7 days, when he jumped on the bungee in Duisburg, Germany, August 9, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
17. The largest collection of clocks belonged to Jack Shoffu from the United States, which brought together 1,094 hours of June 17, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
18. The new record of 23 January 2009 established Wim Hof of the Netherlands - he spent 1 o'clock 42 minutes 22 seconds completely buried in the snow. (John Wright / Guinness World Records)
19. Biggest drawing in chalk was 8,361.31 meters, its painted 5 578 children from schools Alameda, California, for a special child of the project from May 27 to June 7, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
20. The record for the fastest ride on the rear wheel of the motorcycle sitting on the steering wheel has been Endoy Wright, York, UK, July 11, 2006 and amounted to 173.81 miles per hour. (Guinness World Records)
21. The longest ski in the world is 534 meters in length. These skis rode 1,043 skier at the event in Sweden on Sept. 13, 2008. (Jonas Borg / Guinness World Records)
22. The oldest player in table tennis - Dorothy de Lowe. She was 97 years old when she represented Australia at the 14th world championship in table tennis among veterans in the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 25, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
23. Snake boat "from Alappuzha, Kerala, India, is 43.7 meters in length. Her team consists of 143 people, including 118 rowers, 2 drummers, 5 helmsmen and 18 singers. A boat appeared in public in Kerala, India, May 1, 2008. (Guinness World Records)
24. The biggest speed on a skateboard in a standing position was 113 miles per hour. This record has established Douglas da Silva in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Oct. 20, 2007. (Guinness World Records
25. The most massive cluster of Santa Claus was held on the square Gilholl Square in Derry, Northern Ireland, December 9, 2007, and amounted to 13 000 people. (Guinness World Records)
26. PAV1 Badger, created by «Howe and Howe Technologies», was the youngest armored vehicles, accounting for only 1 meter in width. He is strong enough to tear down the door, but compact enough to fit in the elevator. He ordered the Office for the Protection of the population of California. (Guinness World Records)