"close, but no cigar" antedated (1929)

[Stephen Goranson]

The Princeton Alumni Weekly v.29 no. 36, July 2, 1929, p. 1166 col. 2
[about a class reunion]

The long distance trophy, an appropriately inscribed silver cigarette case, was awarded to Em Gooch who had made the trip from Lincoln, Neb. for the occasion. Several other members came close, but no cigar.....

Stephen Goranson
www.duke.edu/~goranson


http://books.google.com/books?id=QBJbAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1166&dq=%22close+but+no+cigar%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rV_5UOSmBZHH0AGytIDwBw&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22close%20but%20no%20cigar%22&f=false

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