Can't judge a book by its cover...

Posted by ESC October 30, 2002In reply to Can't judge a book by its cover... posted by jim on October 30, 2002

I know this must be archived hundreds of times, but I can't seem to find it...can you please help us determine its origin? Thank you very much...

I don't have an exact origin, just a time period.

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER - "Don't judge things by their appearance only. Originated in the United States. First attested in the journal 'American Speech' . Has been used in Britain since 1954 ('Murder in Haste' by H. Gardiner). The proverb is found in varying forms." From Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).