This edition was again slightly different in size to previous editions.

First edition printed outside of the UK.

Title page credits the Editor (Donald McFarlan) and Founding Editor (Norris D. McWhirter).

Foreword says, "In October 1990 the global sales surpassed 65 million".

Slight changes to chapter names from the 26th edition.

Modifications to eighty-one pages in the "stop press" section on pages 311 and 312.

The stop press section also has an advert for "The Guinness Video of Records" and "The New Guinness Disc of Records".

Inside back cover has an advert for the Guinness World of Records Exhibition.

This edition returned to the size of the 36th edition.

Cover designed by 14 year-old Joanne Bloomer.

Title page credits the Editor (Donald McFarlan) and Founding Editor (Norris D. McWhirter).

Foreword says, "By the end of 1990 the global sales surpassed 65 million".

Chapters again renamed and reorganised.

Modifications to sixty-seven pages in the "stop press" section.

Inside back cover has, "Be a Pure Genius with Guinness Reference Books".

A paperback International Edition containing all of the records from this year was also available.

Some copies did not have 1993 on the cover (right). The reason for this omission is unclear.

The inside front cover has photographs of some older editions (the 1969 edition doesn't appear to be in very good condition, and the 1972 edition is the Australian version).

Title page credits the Editor (Peter Matthews) and Founding Editor (Norris D. McWhirter).

The foreword (which has been titled, "The Story of the Guinness Book" for some time) is no longer credited to the Earl of Iveagh (the 3rd Earl died in 1992).

"The Human World" chapter moves yet again. Minor chapter title renaming.

At the end of the book, there is an 11 page section dedicated to the 1992 Summer and Winter Olympics.

Modifications to sixty-eight pages in the "stop press" section.

After the Index, there is a call for collectors with over 30 editions of the book, "so that we can recognise their dedication".

Final page has adverts for "The Guinness Game of Records" and the Guinness World of Records.

Inside back cover has, "There's no end of good books from Guinness".

A paperback International Edition containing all of the records from this year was also available.

Inside front cover has "The FIFA World Cup".

Title page credits the Editor (Peter Matthews) and Founding Editor (Norris D. McWhirter).

Modifications to seventy pages in the "stop press" section.

The final page has a list of 87 collectors with 30 editions or more. Ten have all of the previous 39 editions, not counting Norris McWhirter. His picture shows that none of the early editions he is carrying have dust-jackets. Yet another advert for the Guinness World of Records also appears on that page.

Inside back cover has an advertisement for "The Complete Guinness Library".

Back cover says, "This 1994 edition contains more than five times as much information as that [1955] first one".

A paperback International Edition containing all of the records from this year was also available.

No Guinness logo on the spine.

Title page credits the Editor (Peter Matthews) and Founding Editor (Norris D. McWhirter).

"Arts & Entertainment" and "Business World" chapters swapped.

Modifications to seventy-six pages (and some additions) in the "stop press" section on pages 307 to 310.

Special "World Cup 1994" and "Dear Guinness Book of Records" are added before the Index.

The final page has details of the Guinness Gold Club (167 members) and an advertisement for the Guinness World Records Exhibition. There is an "admit one free" voucher, which could be clipped.

Inside back cover has "Everything Under the Sun".

A paperback International Edition containing all of the records from this year was also available.

No Guinness logo on the spine.

Inside front cover is "40 years of the Guinness Book of Records". The text states that, "Total sales of all editions passed 50 million in 1984, 75 million in 1994 and wil reach the 100 million mark early in the next millennium".

Title page has "The New Guinness Book of Records 1996".

Title page credits the Editor (Peter Matthews) and Founding Editor (Norris D. McWhirter).

Modifications to sixty-six pages in the "stop press" section on pages 309 to 311.

"Dear Guinness Book of Records" appears before the Index.

Inside back cover has "Books That Stand the Test of Time".

Some copies had a black Holofoil dust-jacket; the boards did not have the Holofoil printing.

Guinness harp logo returns to the spine.

Inside front cover - baked beans.

This edition had a questionnaire card with seven questions, that could be sent FREEPOST to Guinness Publishing.

No credits on the title page; following pages credit the Joint Publishing Directors (Ian Castello-Cortes and Michael Feldman), Managing Editor (Elizabeth Wyse).

The "Welcome" page states that, "... we've gone digital ... Records are now derived from an automated database".

Chapters again reorganised and renamed.

No "stop press" section.

After the Index, there are two pages - "Register now to become a Citizen of guinnessworldrecords.com" (with another version of the questionnaire) and the potted history of the book that previously appeared at the beginning of the book.

Inside back cover - sheep.

According to the Fourth Issue of the Guinness Gold Club Newsletter, this edition "achieved its highest sale for twenty years reaching 610,000 copies of the U.K. produced edition. Total worldwide sales of the combined 1997 editions exceeded 1.5 million copies".

Some copies have the date 1998 at the bottom of the front cover.

Guinness Publishing "whoosh" logo on the spine.

Joint Publishing Directors (Ian Castello-Cortes and Michael Feldman), Managing Editor (Elizabeth Wyse).

"The World of Guinness" is now located on page 7.

Chapters completely reorganised and renamed.

No "stop press" section.

Final page is now "Getting into the book".

Publishing Director (Ian Castello-Cortes), Managing Editor (Nic Kynaston).

Introduction mentions, "Our transatlantic research teams based in London and Stamford, Connecticut".

Chapters completely reorganised and renamed.

Final pages are now, "Getting into the Book" and the book's history.

After 45 editions, the book title changes to "Guinness World Records".

Guinness World Records "star and whoosh" logo on the spine.

Publishing Director (Ian Castello-Cortes), Managing Editor (Nic Kynaston).

Introduction says, "... this year we achieved the highest print-run record for a colour hardback title".

Chapters completely reorganised and renamed.

Seventeen changes noted in the "stop press" section on page 274.

Final page is now "history of the book".

Some collectors have reported finding copies of this edition with a thick, clear dust-wrapper. We have a copy in such a dust-wrapper (which keeps the silver cover in pristine condition), so it would be interesting to know why these were specially produced.

Collectors Michael and Meggan have come across a copy with a gold tint to the inset panel (pictured above right). It is not clear if this is a production artefact or a separate cover design.

We have been extremely lucky to get our hands on some pre-production samples, made before the book's title was changed. The first sample below is dated 25th June 1997 and has a cover of 115g/m² Perigord silk paper. The other three samples are a metal sample (weighing in at a hefty 2.12 kilos), a gold sample and a silver sample: