A little wonder, every day

The first Guinness World Records Day took place in 2004

AI-generated cover of a generic red reference book and globe; not a Guinness-branded book or a specific World Records Day event. Prompt: “Photorealistic vertical 4:5 editorial cover of a large red reference book with a blank unmarked cover resting open on a wooden table, pages filled only with indistinct blurred lines, subtle gold decorative edge, warm celebratory light and a small globe nearby. Generic record-keeping book, not a Guinness-branded volume or a specific World Records Day event. No legible text, logos or numbers.” Generated 20 October 2026.

participants in a Guinness Book of World Records attempt to set a space-hopping record in Dublin, 20 June 2010; photographer William Murphy; CC BY-SA 2.0. Original page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1,500_People_Space_Hop_Into_The_Guinness_Book_Of_World_Records.jpg. Attribution: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.

1989 Guinness Book of Records certificate for the smallest public bar room, displayed at the Dove in Hammersmith; photographer RioVerde; CC BY-SA 4.0. Original page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dove,_Hammersmith,_Guinness_Book_of_Records_Certificate_October_2017.jpg. Attribution: RioVerde, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.

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AI-generated cover of a generic red reference book and globe; not a Guinness-branded book or a specific World Records Day event. Prompt: “Photorealistic vertical 4:5 editorial cover of a large red reference book with a blank unmarked cover resting open on a wooden table, pages filled only with indistinct blurred lines, subtle gold decorative edge, warm celebratory light and a small globe nearby. Generic record-keeping book, not a Guinness-branded volume or a specific World Records Day event. No legible text, logos or numbers.” Generated 20 October 2026.

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Guinness World Records held its first annual World Records Day in 2004, marking the book’s status as the world’s best-selling copyrighted book. The source list mixes this up with separate milestones: the 100-millionth copy was sold in 2003, and the book had gained best-seller status back in 1974. World Records Day is held annually, but its date can vary; Guinness set the 2025 event for 20 November.