Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book – First Edition, Second Printing (March 1941)
Rebound in a new Navy Blue Cover With Reproduction Dust Jacket
This is a Second Printing of the First Edition Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, published in March 1941 by Works Publishing Company, New York City. This printing is one of the most historically significant versions of the Big Book and is highly sought after by collectors.
The Second Printing was released simultaneously with the famous Saturday Evening Post article by Jack Alexander, which appeared on newsstands on March 1, 1941. That national exposure propelled Alcoholics Anonymous from approximately 2,000 members to over 8,000 within a single year, firmly establishing the Fellowship on a national scale.
Printing & Historical Significance
First Edition, Second Printing. Published March 1941. Original print run of 5,000 copies. Released alongside the Jack Alexander article that brought AA to national attention.
This printing marks the beginning of substantive textual changes to the Big Book, correcting errors from the First Printing and reflecting the rapid growth and evolution of the Fellowship.
Notable changes include:
The opening line of the Foreword updated to read “more than two thousand men and women” instead of “more than one hundred men and women.” On page 72, the phrase “Spiritual Experience” was changed to “Spiritual Awakening,” with the addition of an asterisk referencing Appendix II. Appendix II was introduced for the first time and appears on page 399. The story “Lone Endeavor” was removed from page 391 and replaced with “Now We Are Two Thousand.” A misprinted line on page 234 present in the First Printing was removed.
Binding & Cover Details
The Second Printing was produced in three different cloth colors: Light Blue, Navy Blue, and Red (using leftover cloth from the 1939 First Printing).
The majority of copies were bound in blue cloth. Unlike the First Printing, the front cover of the blue bindings no longer features gold lettering, though the spine retains gilt lettering.
*This copy has been rebound in a beautiful new navy blue cloth and comes with a reproduction dust jacket.
Condition
Book: Very Good. New blue cover on the book. All original pages are retained in this book except for 3 of the blank pages normally at the back of the book have been removed. There are pencil markings and underlining throughout the book. Cover presents very well. Spine gilt lettering is bright and legible.
Dust Jacket: New Reproduction Dust Jacket.
Overall, this is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a First Edition Second Printing.
Collector Notes
A scarce and historically important Big Book. An outstanding example for collectors, historians, or students of Alcoholics Anonymous
Please review all photos carefully for the exact condition of this book.
