Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a joc. ref. by a speaker to themselves.

1853		Exeter & Plymouth Gaz. (Devon) 19 Feb. 6/2: If this blessed hot weather does not make dripping of a fellow prematurely, you will have an opportunity of weeping on the affectionate bussim of ‘Yours truly’.
1854		Thackeray Newcomes I 120: I say, Charley, why haven’t you picked out some nice girl for yours truly?
1866		W. Collins Armadale II 168: Yours truly, sir, has an eye for a fine woman and a fine horse .
1872		Manchester Eve. News 22 Feb. 4/3: I may hope and pray that the civilian afterclaps of the late election may be as mild [...] in their effects upon disobedient voters as the ecclesiastical [...] penalties have been upon your truly.
1877		‘’Arry on His ’Oliday’ in Punch 13 Oct. 161/1: The toffs may look thunder and tommy on me and my spicey rig out, / But they don’t stare yours faithfully down.
1884		‘’Arry at a Political Pic-Nic’ in Punch 11 Oct. 180/1: A cutaway coat and tight bags / Are the species of togs for yours truly.
1893		S. Crane Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 53: I’ll get square with her, you bet. She won’t get far ahead of yours truly.
1901		‘Hugh McHugh’ Down the Line 85: No more benzine buggies for yours sincerely.
1903		T.W.H. Crosland ‘M.C.’ in Five Notions 22: To think of the ignorant, blushful kid yours truly used to be! -.
1914		E. Pugh Cockney At Home 198: Stay and have just one binder wi’ yours truly.
1918		letter in K.F. Cowing Dear Folks at Home (1919) 240: The only souvenir I care to bring back to U.S.A. is yours truly.
1922		M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 36: Said Chief wires [...] the one hundred iron men due yours truly for services rendered.
1929		J.B. Priestley Good Companions 539: If she gets her lily-white hands on ’em, no earthly chance for yours truly.
1936		(con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 984: Why not have it [i.e. a party] anyway? Yours truly can attend in a wheelchair.
1943		‘Henry Green’ Caught (2001) 43: Oh, no thanks, not for yours truly.
1955		B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 187: Everyone of ’em bred ’n raised ’n trained by yours truly.
1964		P. White Burnt Ones 157: No one can deny, Yours Truly least of all, it makes a difference having a man in the house.
1975		L. Rosten Dear ‘Herm’ 139: This Zero is a ball-buster, so far as Yours Truly is conserned.
1989		T. Blacker Fixx 312: Yours truly accompanies the old wife abroad.
1998		P. Cornwell Point of Origin (1999) 70: Meaning yours truly here is stuck on this case like a fly on a pest strip.
2004		C. Hiaasen Skinny Dip 39: Karl, you ain’t never gonna get that [i.e. the truth]. Not from any husband, including yours truly.
2023		R. Milward Man-Eating Typewriter 54: [S]he savvied only too clear that it was yours truly.