Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) — First Edition, Third Printing (June 1942)
Light Blue Cloth Variant — with Original Dust Jacket
Overview
Offered here is a First Edition, Third Printing (June 1942) of Alcoholics Anonymous—the landmark “Big Book” that carried A.A.’s message to a rapidly growing fellowship during the early wartime years.
The Third Printing is a particularly important early state of the First Edition text. It reflects A.A.’s fast expansion following the 1941 publicity wave and captures the program in print while the Fellowship was still small enough for membership totals to be updated inside the book.
This copy is the Light Blue cloth variant and is accompanied by its original dust jacket.
Why the Third Printing Matters
The Third Printing followed the pivotal Second Printing (March 1941)—the first major “re-set” of the text where early corrections and updates began appearing. By June 1942, A.A. had continued to grow quickly, and the book was already evolving in small but meaningful ways.
A few key Third Printing points:
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June 1942 printing (First Edition, Third Printing)
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On page 27 (“There is a Solution”), the wording updates from “one hundred men…” to “hundreds of men…”—a small line change that powerfully reflects A.A.’s rapid growth
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The membership page at page 391 is titled “Now We Are Six Thousand”
Edition & Publication Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous
Edition: First Edition
Printing: Third Printing
Date: June 1942
Publisher: Works Publishing Company, New York City
Printer: Cornwall Press, Cornwall, N.Y.
Binding: Light Blue cloth (embossed title on front board; gilt on spine)
Dust Jacket: Original (present)
Condition
Book (Light Blue cloth): Excellent condition overall. Light blue cloth presents clean and strong with no notable wear visible. Spine gilt has darkened. There is a name and address handwritten on the first blank page with the remainder of the interior containing no other writing or markings.
Original Dust Jacket: Present and complete overall, with edge wear and tears. Small piece missing at the bottom of the spine. General age wear consistent with early survival of First Edition jackets.
Please view all photos for the most precise condition reference.
Collector Notes
The First Edition sequence (1939–1954) is the cornerstone run for Big Book collectors. Within that run, the Third Printing is especially desirable because it sits close to the earliest text while showing A.A.’s growth in real time—right down to the language inside the book and the membership statement “Now We Are Six Thousand.”
A strong early First Edition copy in the Light Blue Third Printing cloth, with an original dust jacket—an increasingly scarce combination.
