Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition, Fourteenth Printing (July 1951) With Original Dust Jacket
Offered here is a First Edition, Fourteenth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly known as the Big book, published in July 1951.
This printing belongs to the later years of the First Edition, when Alcoholics Anonymous had grown far beyond its early pioneering stage but was still using the original First Edition text and format introduced in 1939.
The copyright page clearly identifies the printing history through:
“Fourteenth Printing, July, 1951.”
The title page carries the 1951 date and Works Publishing Inc. imprint.
Especially desirable is the presence of the original Fourteenth Printing dust jacket, identified as such on the rear flap.
Historical Context
By 1951, Alcoholics Anonymous was expanding rapidly across the United States and internationally. The Fellowship had grown substantially from the small network that existed when the First Printing appeared in 1939, yet the Big Book still retained the original First Edition structure and body of personal stories.
The Fourteenth Printing therefore represents an important later stage of the First Edition period—only a few years before publication of the Second Edition in 1955.
For collectors, these late First Edition printings offer an appealing combination of historical significance, classic First Edition format, and relative accessibility compared with the earliest printings.
Condition
Book
The book is in very good overall condition.
The original navy-blue cloth boards remain attractive, with light rubbing, mild surface wear and a few small areas of discoloration consistent with age and handling.
The blind-stamped Alcoholics Anonymous lettering on the front board remains clearly visible.
The spine is firm and presents very well. The gilt lettering remains bright, sharp and highly legible, with only light wear at the spine extremities.
The binding remains sound and the book is complete and intact.
The interior pages are generally clean and well preserved, with light age toning and occasional minor spotting. The front and rear endpapers show some scattered foxing and discoloration, particularly near the edges and pastedowns.
No writing or ownership markings are evident in the photographs provided.
Original Dust Jacket
The book retains its original Fourteenth Printing dust jacket, a major collecting feature.
The jacket remains substantially complete and retains strong red, yellow, black and white coloration. The front panel remains visually striking and displays very well.
The jacket shows expected age and use, including rubbing, surface wear, creasing, edge tears, chipping and scattered staining/soiling. There is more noticeable wear at the upper and lower edges, along the folds and at the spine extremities.
The rear flap clearly identifies the jacket as the Fourteenth Printing.
Despite its wear, the jacket remains an attractive and important original component of the book and adds substantially to the collector appeal of this copy.
Book Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Edition: First Edition
Printing: Fourteenth Printing
Publication Date: July 1951
Publisher: Works Publishing Inc.
Place: New York City
Printer: The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York
Binding: Original navy-blue cloth
Dust Jacket: Original Fourteenth Printing dust jacket
Collector Notes
Original dust jackets are among the most important surviving components of First Edition Big Books, and many copies from this period are encountered without them.
This example combines a solid original 1951 First Edition book with bright spine gilt and its original, identifiable Fourteenth Printing dust jacket.
It is an attractive representative of the later First Edition period and a strong addition to a collection focused on the evolution of the Big Book and early Alcoholics Anonymous publishing history.
A desirable late First Edition Big Book with its original Fourteenth Printing dust jacket—complete, authentic, and visually appealing.
