Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition Light Blue 3rd Printing from 1942 - RDJ

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)

First Edition — Third Printing (June 1942)
Light Blue Boards | Reproduction Dust Jacket

This is a First Edition, Third Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in June 1942 by Works Publishing, Inc. Only 5,000 copies of this printing were produced, making it one of the scarcer early Big Book printings and a cornerstone collectible for AA historians and serious collectors.

Issued during World War II, this printing reflects a critical period of rapid fellowship growth and early textual evolution, as Alcoholics Anonymous expanded well beyond its original membership base.

Printing Significance

The Third Printing represents an important transitional moment in Big Book history, capturing early revisions that would shape later editions:

• Page 27 revision:
  The text was changed from “one hundred men who were once” to “hundreds of men who were once”, reflecting the rapid growth of the fellowship.

• Page 391 title:
  Titled “Now We Are Six Thousand”, documenting AA membership growth at that moment in time.

• Early First Edition structure retained:
  Includes original story placement and formatting unique to the earliest printings.

With only three First Edition printings issued between 1939 and 1942, the Third Printing marks the point where AA was clearly becoming a national movement.

Physical Details

Title: Alcoholics Anonymous

Edition: First Edition

Printing: Third Printing

Publication Date: June 1942

Publisher: Works Publishing, Inc.

Binding: Hardcover

Boards: Light Blue cloth (often referred to as royal, sky, or baby blue)

Dust Jacket: High-quality reproduction of the original jacket

Pages: Complete and intact

Light blue board variants are especially sought after, as they represent one of three known cloth colors used during this printing.

Condition

Book: Very Good condition for its age. Light staining and wear to boards consistent with use. Spine shows wear but remains legible and intact. Binding solid. Pages complete and readable.

Dust Jacket: Reproduction dust jacket included (not original).

This is an honest, well-preserved example of an early Big Book.

Historical Importance

The Third Printing captures Alcoholics Anonymous at a moment of accelerating growth, when the program was proving its effectiveness and spreading rapidly despite wartime constraints. It stands as a tangible artifact from the Fellowship’s earliest expansion beyond its founders and original groups.

For collectors of AA history, recovery literature, or American social history, this printing represents one of the most meaningful early milestones in Big Book publishing.

Collector Notes

Only 5,000 copies printed. One of the earliest text revisions acknowledging AA’s growth. Light blue board variants are especially collectible. Reproduction jacket allows for proper display while preserving the book. A strong example of a scarce and historically important First Edition Big Book.

Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.