Alcoholics anonymous the big book is one of the bestselling books of all time, having sold 30 million copies. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 1st printing 1939 dj aa. This is the 7th printing of the 1st edition big book from 1945. The top bookseller of collectible copies of the aa big book is bill schaberg of athena rare books in fairfield, connecticut. See all the printings of the first edition big book 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th. B0 alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first edition to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic publication of alcoholics anonymous in april 1939, the 20 general service conference approved the creation of this facsimile edition of the first printing of the first edition. The 7th printing of the big book was printed in january 1945.
This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The holy grail of aa big book collections heads to auction fine. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book. New stories have been added to the personal histories. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, eleventh printing 1947 big book. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aa s founders before the first edition was printed. Alcoholics anonymous daily reflections daily reflection alcoholics anonymous meditations from the mat. In this series we will be discussing much of the history surrounding the first edition big book.
There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. Alcoholics anonymous big book collection up for auction june 25, 2019 gmt this undated photo provided by profiles in history shows a collection of 19 first edition copies of the founding document of alcoholics anonymous, known to adherents as the big book. This new addition will be a faithful replica of the original, with the famous circus cover dust jacket and bulky paper which is why it was initially called the big book. First edition, first printing of the aa big book in the original red cloth and jacket.
Our reference for this study of the 12 steps is the first 103 pages of alcoholics anonymous, fourth edition, the basic text xi. This first printing was dated 1955 on the title page. Works publishing company, april 1939 book is in near fine condition strong 100% gold gild, tight binding, clean pages with no writing other than a gift inscription on first blank page tommy may this book be a great help to you in time of trouble. B1 alcoholics anonymous fourth edition 2001 of the big book, basic text of a. A seventh printing sold for 2,750 several years ago but you are unlikely to find that printing as cheap as that again. This edition is a faithful replica of the original, with the famous circus cover dust jacket and bulky paper which is why it was initially called the big book, and is published in the original englishlanguage text only. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. First edition alcoholics anonymous big book reprint i recoveryshop. Alcoholics anonymous big book large printb16 paperback published june 1st 1991 by alcoholics anonymous world services paperback, 573 pages. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition. Gold gilt on spine 90% top to 50% near bottom of spine with light fraying at bottom of spine. Includes a reproduction of the original dustjacket.
Alcoholics anonymous first edition, fourth printing 1943 big book with original dust jacket. Available with screen printing and coin holder display. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 15th printing odj ebay. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition, 1st printing, april 1939 works publishing company. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. There were 4,730 books printed, with red cloth binding, wide columns, thick paper which was why it was called the big book in the first place, and a red, yellow. Hard cover reproduction of the first printing of the first edition of alcoholics anonymous. The holy grail of aa big book collections heads to. Alcoholics anonymous set of aa big books 1st edition 16th printing 1954 2nd edition 1st printing 1955 3rd edition 1st printing 1976 4th edition 1st printing 2001this is a unique auction for a set of aa big books. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939 for sale. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. Big book changes these are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeral pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939.
Alcoholics anonymous by bill wilson, first edition abebooks. Alcoholics anonymous big book collection up for auction. Alcoholics anonymous1st edition16th printing 1954a. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition, 1st printing ebay. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. First is a first edition, first printing of the big book from april 1939 in its original jacket, signed by bill wilson. Save aa big book first edition to get email alerts and updates on your. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. This is a reprint of the first big book of aa, i am so happy and grateful to be able to read the big book as it was first. Alcoholics anonymous first edition bill wilson first. Alcoholics anonymous big book 1st edition 7th printing for. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are many thousands of men and.
Alcoholics anonymous shop big book 75th anniversary 1st. This is the 1st printing of the aa big book of which there were only 4,650 to 4,670 copies printed, far fewer than the ensuing printings that included 20,000 for the 8th and 9th printings, 25,000 for the 10th and 11th printing, 42,350 for the 12th printing, 50,000 for the th printing and 49,800 for the 14th printing. A special booklet, titled a brief history of the big book, in english, spanish and french, will be included with all orders of this commemorative edition big book. An affordable reproduction of the original big booka a. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book with original dust jacket. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are many thousands of men and women who. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. New front free endpaper, replaced professionally it had been torn out to remove another personal inscription, without other changes to book.
Service manualtwelve concepts for world services alcoholics anonymous comes of age alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first edition alcoholics anonymous big book 4th edition. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Book is very good condition with strong gold gilt on front board and light. Although it was not the first help book to be published, it proved to be the most collectible in its category. This is the 1st printing of the aa big book of which there were only 4,650 to 4,670 copies printed, far fewer than the ensuing printings that included 20,000 for the 8th and 9th printings, 25,000 for the 10th and 11th printing, 42,350 for the 12th printing, 50,000 for the th printing. Detailsto commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic publication of alcoholics anonymous in april 1939, the 20 general service conference approved the creation of this facsimile edition of the first printing of the first edition. This book was intended to be the last printing of the 1st edition in anticipation of the 2nd edition. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. The first printing of the first edition was published in april of 1939, followed by 15 more printings up until the release of the 2nd edition. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 15th printing odj. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book abebooks. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing big book origin of the aa twelve step system. Find great deals on ebay for alcoholics anonymous first edition big book.
Vinyl covers for giant print aa big book choce of colors. The description says 2nd edition big book, not the same 164 pages and the same forewords. Alcoholics anonymous 2nd edition 2nd printing 1955. A seventh printing sold for 2,750 several years ago but you are unlikely to find that printing.
There were very few initially printed and it is unknown to an exact amount that was printed. Bernard poindexter to the edges of the text block and the pastedowns. The second edition was a major revision of the original 1939 big book, and signed copies of the first printing of the second edition are much scarcer than signed copies of the 1939 first edition. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 2nd printing bill wilson. Fun to have a reproduction of the first edition as a collection for my shelf. Editions of alcoholics anonymous by alcoholics anonymous. Book is very good condition with strong gold gilt on front board and light stain to lower left of front board. The alcoholics anonymous big book is not just the most influential self help. Alcoholics anonymous romanian big book alcoolich anonimi. Detailsfourth edition 2001 of the big book, basic text of a. Alcoholics anonymous big book large print 4th edition. Bills association with the book began in the early 1990s.
Each 1st reference given in red is from the first edition. Alcoholics anonymous 2nd edition 1955 1st printing original dj aa big book. Alcoholics anonymous aa big book first edition 14th. Alcoholics anonymous aa big book 2nd edition, 11th printing. Mar 01, 20 alcoholics anonymous big book represents a fine example of demand driven scarcity. Anonymous 1st edition 12th printing 1948 odj aa big book bill w. Feb 29, 2012 foreword to first edition this is the foreword as it appeared in the first printing of the first edition in 1939.
Aabig book has been registered as a trademark by aa world service inc. First printings are rare, signed and inscribed copies exceptionally so. Unfollow aa big book first edition to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The first edition big book stories including 1st edition printing history story listings original manuscript through 3rd edition and story authors names where known. Compared to the original this reproduction has the same content and appearance but is not as thick. Aa big book covers leather big book covers vinyl big book. Alcoholics anonymous first edition 14th printing 1951 origina dj 1st aa big book. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Special edition with red hardcover binding, the famous circus cover dust jacket and bulky paper which was why it was initially called the big book. Book is in very good condition, with no writing or marks to pages. Aa history and how the big book was put together by bill w. This book is for those members of aa who love to study the wonderful big book and others. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 15th printing hardcover january 1, 1954.
The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, fifteenth printing 1954 big book. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 1st printing 1939 dj aa big. This is a first edition fifteenth printing of the big book with an original dust jacket. Alcoholics anonymous aa big book, first edition 11th printing 1947 alcoholics anonymous on. This first edition, first printing copy of the big book has been carefully owned and treasured in a single family for five generations. Foreword to first edition of alcoholics anonymous the e. B0 alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the. A daily guide for the practice of y meditations from the mat. View by list pass it on a brief history of the big book a. The book will probably never go out of print as it has set the standard for fighting addictions. Alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first.
We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, seventh printing 1945 big book ny. The description says 2nd edition big book, not the same 164 pages and the same forewords that are in the 3rd and 4th editions. This conferenceapproved special edition of alcoholics anonymous is a reproduction of the first printing of the first edition of the big book as it was published in 1939. Previous owners name on inside front and back boards with personal library plate on front blank page. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number. The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally. Alcoholics anonymous also known as the big book in recovery circles sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. Alcoholics anonymous first edition eleventh printing for sale. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 12th printing 1948 odj aa big book bill w. Service manualtwelve concepts for world services alcoholics anonymous comes of age alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first edition alcoholics anonymous big book 4th edition as bill sees it came to believe daily reflections dr. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic publication of alcoholics anonymous in april 1939, the 20 general service conference approved the creation of this facsimile edition of the first printing of the first edition. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a.
Aa big book aa big book taghere the foundation progress and principles washington temperance society of baltimore the missionary spirit alcoholism recovery 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. B 1 alcoholics anonymous fourth edition 2001 of the big book, basic text of a. Pocket size mini aa big book coverss 11 colors vinyl. A daily guide for the practice of y alcoholics anonymous comes of age alcoholics anonymous 4th edition of alcoholics anonymous 3rd edition alcoholics. Alcoholics anonymous aa big book, first edition 11th printing. Large print by alcoholics anonymous paperback january 1, 1634 4. The large print fourth edition of alcoholics anonymouse, affectionately known as the big book, includes twentyfour new stories and continues to pass on aas message of hope and recovery to millions. Click on the above titles for more podcast links audio 1st edition book book. Aa big book aa big book taghere the foundation progress and principles washington. Alcoholics anonymous books list of books by author.
Alcoholics anonymous first edition, second printing 1941 big book. Alcoholics anonymous extremely rare 1st edition 7th printing. Please do not write with questions about meetings click here for meeting info. Alcoholics anonymous first edition second printings for. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939. There is a no apparent writing in the book and there are no missing pages, the cover has general soiling, the spine ends are rolled, the gilt lettering on the front cover is dull and about 95% present, the gilt. Alcoholics anonymous first edition fourth printing big.
The big book bb notations are to page and paragraph, as in 64. Spine wear at top and bottom with a 1 inch tear on front top. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing big book origin of the aa twelve step system alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing. Alcoholics anonymous aa big book, first edition 11th. This is a reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous. Aa first edition, first printing april, 1939 big books available for purchase. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. Collection of the 16 printings of the first edition of the.
Only 4,650 copies were printed, this book is an exceptional find, especially in the highly sought. Foreword to the first edition this is the foreword as it appeared in the first printing of the first edition in 1939 we, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and woman who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. We are bringing to you a series about the alcoholics anonymous basic text. The story of how more than one hundred men have recovered from alcoholism. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first edition. Original dark blue cloth binding very good condition. Alcoholics anonymous set 1st edition 2nd ed 3rd ed 4th ed. Several more expensive copies are available via abebooks. Alcoholics anonymous big book 1st edition 75th anniversary reprint. Copies with the original dust jacket in this condition are increasingly rare.