Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Fourteenth Printing (1973)
Original Dust Jacket | February 1973 | Second Edition Big Book
Offered here is a Second Edition, Fourteenth Printing (1973) of Alcoholics Anonymous, the foundational text of the Fellowship commonly known as the Big Book. Published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., this copy retains its original blue dust jacket, bearing a February 1973 printing code.
First introduced in 1955, the Second Edition reflected the remarkable growth of Alcoholics Anonymous since the publication of the original Big Book in 1939. While preserving the basic text of A.A.’s program of recovery, the revised edition introduced expanded historical material, updated introductory sections, and a substantially revised collection of personal recovery stories.
By the early 1970s, A.A. had become an established international Fellowship. The updated Foreword in this printing documents more than 18,000 groups across over 90 countries, with an estimated membership exceeding 575,000 as of 1972.
This Fourteenth Printing represents the later years of the Second Edition, which remained in publication until the introduction of the Third Edition in 1976.
Original 1973 Dust Jacket
An important feature of this copy is its surviving original Second Edition dust jacket.
The rear flap retains the printer’s code 100M–2/73(C), identifying a February 1973 jacket printing consistent with the Fourteenth Printing of the Second Edition.
The jacket also preserves the familiar anonymity feature of Second Edition Big Books. Its design allowed owners to turn the jacket inside out when carrying the book, concealing the title and protecting personal anonymity.
Book Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous — The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Author: Alcoholics Anonymous
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., New York
Edition: Second Edition — New and Revised
Printing: Fourteenth Printing
Year: 1973
Binding: Blue cloth hardcover with embossed front cover lettering and gold spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original Dust Jacket (ODJ)
Dust Jacket Code: 100M–2/73(C)
Condition
Book: Good condition overall, with noticeable moisture-related wear and discoloration.
The original blue cloth boards retain a relatively bright appearance, with light rubbing and wear along the edges and corners. The embossed front cover lettering remains visible, and the gold spine lettering is legible.
There is evidence of moisture exposure affecting portions of the book, including discoloration and staining. The binding appears intact, and the boards remain reasonably well preserved.
The front endpapers and interior pages shown exhibit light age toning, occasional spotting, and moisture-related discoloration near some page edges. The existing condition record notes pen markings inside the front cover, with no additional writing or markings reported.
Dust Jacket: Original blue dust jacket in Fair to Good condition, showing substantial surface rubbing, scattered scuffing, edge wear, and small tears and chips along the edges and spine extremities.
Moisture staining and discoloration are visible, particularly toward the lower front cover and along portions of the spine and edges. There are also areas of surface paper loss and light spotting.
Despite this wear, the jacket retains its original design, both flaps, and the February 1973 printing code.
Please examine all photographs carefully for additional details regarding condition.
Collector’s Notes
The 1973 Fourteenth Printing is an identifiable later Second Edition Big Book, documenting Alcoholics Anonymous during a period of continued international expansion.
With its surviving original February 1973 dust jacket, this copy offers an accessible example of the Second Edition’s publication history for collectors and readers interested in early A.A. literature.
