Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition 4th Printing Big Book 1943 - Blue - RDJ

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)

First Edition — Fourth Printing (March 1943)
Navy Blue Cloth Variant | Works Publishing Company | Reproduction Dust Jacket

Overview

Offered here is an authentic First Edition, Fourth Printing (March 1943) of Alcoholics Anonymous—the original “Big Book”—in the navy blue cloth binding. This copy is accompanied by a reproduction dust jacket for attractive shelf display and protection.

The Fourth Printing is a key wartime-era First Edition, capturing A.A.’s explosive early growth and continuing textual evolution as the Fellowship expanded nationwide.

Why the Fourth Printing Matters

Published in March 1943, the Fourth Printing was a 5,000-copy run and appeared in two cloth variants: green and navy blue.

Collectors prize this printing for its clear “growth markers” in the text:

• In “There Is a Solution” (p. 27), wording changes from “hundreds…” to “thousands of men and women…”—a direct reflection of A.A.’s rapidly expanding membership.
• The membership chapter update continues as well: p. 391 is titled “Now We Are Eight Thousand.”

Every early First Edition printing is a snapshot of A.A. in real time—this one lands at a pivotal point when the Fellowship was becoming a major national force.

Edition / Printing Identification

• Publisher: Works Publishing Company, New York City
• Copyright page: lists First Printing (April 1939), Second Printing (March 1941), Third Printing (June 1942), Fourth Printing (March 1943)
• Title page date: 1943
• Binding: Navy blue cloth with gilt spine lettering
• Dust jacket: Reproduction

Condition

Book (Navy Blue Cloth): Good overall.

• Covers show wear with fading and staining consistent with age and handling
• Spine gilt present but worn and fading
• Binding remains intact and the book is complete

Interior:

• Name handwritten on the first page
• No other writing or markings noted
• Pages show expected age toning

Dust Jacket (Reproduction):

• Included for display/protection
• Please note: this is not an original jacket

Please review all photos closely—they provide the most accurate representation of condition, cloth wear, spine gilt, and the handwritten name.

Collector Notes

A First Edition Fourth Printing (1943) is a cornerstone wartime Big Book, and the navy blue cloth variant is especially desirable for collectors building a full First Edition printing-and-cloth sequence. While original jackets from this era are scarce, a clean reproduction jacket makes for a strong display copy while keeping the book protected on the shelf.