Book excerpt: What were the first words spoken on the telephone? How did Frank Epperson accidentally invent the first ice lolly? Who queued all night ot make sure he got Britain's first number plate, 'A1'? The Book of Firsts describes the first instance of something happening. It is a painstakingly researched encyclopaedia of ground-breakin ginnovations and chievements. It provides the dates, details and the stories of the remarkable minds and personalities behind humankind's greatest milestones. It is packed with facts, photographs and pictures. As the story of each first unfolds, tales of other firsts that were made possible by this 'first first' are told. The book covers technical innovations, huamn endeavours, sporting greats, political milestones, cultural breakthroughs, medical achievements, and food and drink. Each story will delight and amaze, describin gand illustrating firsts ranging from the genuinely important (the first heart transplant) to the trivia beloved of quiz shows and dinner parties - the first item to be sold using a bar code was a packet of Wrigley's chewin gum, sold at 08.01 on 26th June 1974 in Ohio.