Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition 9th Printing from 1946 - ODJ

Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition Big Book

Ninth Printing (January 1946) — With Original Dust Jacket

New York City: Works Publishing, Inc., 1946

Offered here is a highly collectible First Edition, Ninth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, the foundational text of the Fellowship, published in January 1946 by Works Publishing, Inc. This copy retains its original dust jacket, a key factor in collector desirability.

Only 20,000 copies were printed in this Ninth Printing, making it scarcer than many later First Edition printings. This issue holds special historical importance as it marks a turning point in A.A. history and publishing.

Historical Significance

The Ninth Printing represents the end of the wartime era for the Big Book:

• The wartime “Important Notice” regarding government paper restrictions—present in earlier wartime printings—was removed

• The Fellowship had expanded dramatically following World War II

• The updated statement “We Are Twenty-Three Thousand” appears on page 391, reflecting A.A.’s rapid postwar growth

• This printing immediately precedes the explosive expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous in the late 1940s

For collectors, the Ninth Printing stands as a bridge between the constrained wartime editions and the Fellowship’s emergence into widespread public awareness.

Condition

Book:
Very good condition. The blue cloth boards show minimal wear. Spine is firm and square, with bright, well-preserved gold lettering. Binding is solid, and the book is fully intact with no missing pages. Interior pages are clean, with no writing, inscriptions, or markings noted.

Dust Jacket:
Original dust jacket present. Displays edge wear consistent with age, including small chips and creasing, but remains complete and attractive.

Please review all photographs carefully for exact condition details.

Collector Notes

• First Edition, Ninth Printing (January 1946)

• Original Works Publishing, Inc. dust jacket

• Post-wartime printing with revised historical text

• A cornerstone volume for serious A.A. collectors and historians

A strong, honest example of an important transitional First Edition printing—combining historical significance, original jacket presence, and very solid overall condition.