Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition 5th Printing from 1944 - ODJ - Baby Blue

Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book — First Edition, Fifth Printing (January 1944)

Original Dust Jacket | “Baby Blue” Cover

Description

Offered here is a First Edition, Fifth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in January 1944 by Works Publishing Inc. This highly desirable wartime printing is part of the earliest generation of the Big Book and is distinguished by its light blue (“Baby Blue”) cloth binding and original dust jacket.

Only 5,000 copies of the Fifth Printing were produced, making it one of the scarcer First Edition printings. This edition is also notable as the last of the true “Big” Big Books—subsequent printings were slightly reduced in size due to the use of thinner paper.

Page 391 in this printing carries the title “Now We Are Ten Thousand,” reflecting the rapid growth of Alcoholics Anonymous during the early 1940's.

Publishing Details

Edition: First Edition

Printing: Fifth Printing

Publication Date: January 1944

Publisher: Works Publishing Inc., New York

Copies Printed: 5,000

Binding: Light blue cloth (“Baby Blue”)

Dust Jacket: Original, present

Condition

Book: Very Good. Light blue cloth shows minimal wear. Small stain noted on the back cover. Gilt spine lettering remains bright and well-defined. Binding tight and square. No writing, inscriptions, or markings. Complete with no missing pages.

Dust Jacket: Good. Original jacket present. Edge wear and small tears consistent with age and wartime paper quality. Overall attractive and complete.

Collector Significance

The First Edition Fifth Printing holds a special place in A.A. publishing history:

• One of the lowest-production First Edition printings

• The final full-size “Big” Big Book
  

• Increasingly scarce with an original dust jacket, especially in this level of condition

Finding a Fifth Printing with its original jacket and a clean, unmarked interior is becoming increasingly difficult. This copy presents exceptionally well for its age and would be a standout addition to any A.A. or recovery literature collection.