National Lampoon The 199th Birthday Book facts for kids

National Lampoon The 199th Birthday Book was a funny American book released in 1975. It looked like a regular book, but it was actually a special edition of National Lampoon magazine. This means you could buy it at newsstands, not just in bookstores. The book was full of brand-new jokes and stories, not just old ones collected from other places.

The title, '199th Birthday,' refers to how old the United States was when the book came out. In 1976, the U.S. celebrated its 200th birthday, called the Bicentennial. So, in 1975, when this book was published, the country was 199 years old.

The book's cover art was created by Arky & Barrett and designed by Michael C. Gross. It features four models whose skin was painted to look like the Betsy Ross flag. This flag has a star representing the first American states, which were once the Thirteen Colonies. Even their hair matched the flag's colors: three models had dark wigs, and one had a red wig.

Who Created This Book?

The editor of National Lampoon The 199th Birthday Book was Tony Hendra. He helped put together all the funny content.

Talented Writers and Artists

Many talented writers and artists contributed to this special book. They helped make it a very funny and memorable publication. Some of the well-known people who worked on it include:

• Doug Kenney
• P.J. O'Rourke
• Michael O'Donoghue
• Frank Frazetta
• Sam Gross
• Bobby London
• Gahan Wilson
• Jeff Jones
• George Evans
• Noel Sickles

These individuals were known for their humor and artistic skills. They brought their unique styles to the book. Their contributions made it a popular humor book of its time.