Alcoholics Anonymous — Third Edition, Third Printing (1977)
Original Dust Jacket | August 1977 | Early Third Edition Printing with Copyright Page Error
Offered here is a Third Edition, Third Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in August 1977 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. This early Third Edition Big Book retains its original blue dust jacket and features an interesting bibliographic error that distinguishes it from the preceding printing.
Although the copyright page identifies this copy as a “Second Printing, 1977,” it is actually the Third Printing, issued in August 1977. The correct printing is established through the updated historical information on page 16 and the dated printing code on the original dust jacket.
This printing represents an early period in the Third Edition’s publication history, following the introduction of the revised edition in 1976.
Identifying the Third Printing — The Copyright Page Error
One of the most interesting characteristics of this printing is the incorrect printing designation appearing on the copyright page.
Despite stating “Second Printing, 1977,” this copy can be identified as the Third Printing through two distinguishing features:
1. Updated Fellowship Statistics on Page 16
A footnote on page 16 states:
“A.A. is now composed of almost 30,000 groups (1977).”
The actual Second Printing contains the earlier reference to approximately 28,000 groups in 1976.
2. Original Dust Jacket Printing Code
The rear flap of the original dust jacket carries the printer’s code:
150M–8/77(A)
This identifies an August 1977 jacket printing, distinguishing it from the December 1976 jacket associated with the preceding printing.
Together, these details establish this copy as the Third Printing despite the incorrect copyright-page designation.
For collectors of early Big Books, this printing error provides an interesting example of the bibliographic variations found throughout the publication history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Historical Significance of the Third Edition
The Third Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous was introduced in 1976, twenty-one years after the release of the Second Edition in 1955.
During those intervening decades, Alcoholics Anonymous experienced tremendous growth, expanding its membership and establishing groups throughout the world.
The Third Edition reflected this growth through an expanded collection of personal recovery stories. The introductory material was updated to reflect the Fellowship’s development, while the basic text of the A.A. program remained unchanged.
The early Third Edition printings document a particularly interesting period in the Fellowship’s history, when Alcoholics Anonymous was entering its fifth decade and continuing to reach new communities.
This August 1977 Third Printing offers collectors an example from the opening years of the Third Edition’s twenty-five-year publication period.
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: Third Edition
Printing: Third Printing — August 1977
Copyright Page: Incorrectly identifies the book as “Second Printing, 1977”
Dust Jacket Code: 150M–8/77(A)
Binding: Blue cloth hardcover with gold spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original blue Third Edition dust jacket
Year: 1977
Condition
Book: The blue cloth hardcover is in very good overall condition, with light exterior wear, minor rubbing to the boards, and some wear at the corners and spine extremities. The gold spine lettering remains bright and legible. The binding appears sound, and the interior pages shown are clean and well preserved.
The front pastedown contains a lengthy handwritten poem or personal reflection in blue ink, addressed to “Norm + Kathleen” and signed at the bottom. This inscription occupies most of the pastedown and is an important condition detail.
Dust Jacket: The original blue dust jacket is in fair to good condition, showing considerable edge wear, rubbing, creasing, and several tears and areas of paper loss. The most noticeable losses occur along the upper front edge and corners, with additional chipping and wear at the spine extremities and along the lower edges.
Despite the wear, the jacket retains its distinctive blue design, original flap text, and the important August 1977 printing code.
Please examine all photographs carefully for additional details regarding condition.
Collector’s Notes
This August 1977 Third Printing is an interesting early example of the Third Edition Big Book, distinguished by its incorrectly identified copyright page and the corresponding changes to the Fellowship statistics on page 16.
The original dust jacket is especially useful in documenting the printing, retaining the dated code that helps distinguish this issue from the true Second Printing.
For collectors studying the publication history and printing variations of Alcoholics Anonymous, this copy offers a distinctive example from the earliest years of the Third Edition.
