Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities by the Author of the Little Red Book - First Printing from 1970
Published in 1970, Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities is a remarkable work by Ed Webster, the same author who wrote The Little Red Book — one of the most widely circulated early study guides to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This volume, printed by Hamar Publishers in Edina, Minnesota, presents Webster’s own personal story alongside reflections on alcoholism, recovery, and the A.A. program.
In his introduction, Webster writes:
“For many years, I lived the miserable, unpredictable life of a drinking alcoholic. My name is unimportant. Today, the only thing of importance, to me, is that I am an arrested alcoholic. Thanks to God, as I understand Him, and to the help of our A.A. Program, I have not used alcohol, as a beverage, since December 13, 1941.”
Webster sobered up in Minneapolis in 1941 and, with Barry Collins, founded the Coll-Webb Co. Together, they published and distributed The Little Red Book and other titles to members of Alcoholics Anonymous until Webster’s death in 1971. In addition to The Little Red Book and this volume, Webster also authored Stools and Bottles and Bar Room Reveries, both of which expanded on A.A. principles through his unique blend of practical guidance and spiritual reflection.
As one of his last publications, Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities stands as a deeply personal testament to Webster’s gratitude for sobriety and his lifelong service to the fellowship.
Collector’s Significance
While The Little Red Book remains Webster’s most influential work, Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities offers rare insight into his personal journey and spiritual outlook. For collectors, it is an essential companion to his other writings (Stools and Bottles and Bar Room Reveries), each of which played a role in shaping mid-20th-century recovery literature.
Scarce on the market, this 1970 first printing represents not only a milestone in Webster’s publishing career but also an enduring piece of A.A. history.
Book Details
Title: Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities
Author: Ed Webster (author of The Little Red Book, Stools and Bottles, Bar Room Reveries)
Publisher: Hamar Publishers, Edina, MN
Edition: First Edition
Printing: First Printing
Publication Year: 1970
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good — cover shows some wear, fading, and small stains; interior clean with no writing or markings
Dimensions (H × W × D): Approx. 8 × 5.25 × 0.25 in.
Weight: Approx. 6 oz.
Rarity / Collectibility: Scarce first printing of Ed Webster’s final major work, a meaningful companion to The Little Red Book, Stools and Bottles, and Bar Room Reveries
Condition Notes
The book is in very good condition overall. The cover shows moderate wear with some fading and small stains. The binding remains tight, and the interior pages are clean, bright, and free from markings. A well-preserved example of a scarce recovery title from the early 1970s.
