Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition First Printing with Original Dust Jacket Inscribed by the alcoholic foundation with accompanying letter signed “R.Hock”

Alcoholics Anonymous

First Edition First Printing - April 1939

with Original Dust Jacket

Inscribed by the Alcoholic Foundation

with accompanying letter signed “R.Hock”

This package contains a gift inscription first edition first printing big book, April 1939 and the highly sought after original dust jacket. Plus a special piece of AA history (read below).

This book was gifted to Minister W.M. Richards of the Community Methodist Church in Morton, Washington from the Alcoholic Foundation(See inscription on the first page of the book).

Included with the book is a true piece of AA history. AA’s first national secretary was working tirelessly to help Bill Wilson fill orders and answer inquiries.

One of her response letters is dated February 26, 1941, from The Alcoholic Foundation. This letter is a piece of correspondence between Rev. Richards and Ruth Hock.  The details of the letter are regarding an inquiry from Rev. Richards on how to help an alcoholic. Ruth responded by sending this letter and a book separately.

Ruth Hock signed this letter “R. Hock” and did not use her first name. Ruth speaks about signing in this manner in a historical recording when she talks about the inquiries coming into the office when the Jack Alexander article came out and that she would send them a letter and sign it "R. Hock". She signed in this manner as she did not want people to disregard the information that she shared because she is a woman. 
This letter further validates the historical significance of Ruth's role in AA. This letter also establishes the history of this particular book. The book has been inscribed as "a gift from the alcoholic foundation" to Will Richards dated 1941.  The letter was written to the same individual dated February 26, 1941, just several days before the famous Jack Alexander article.

Ruth Hock was so much more to AA than a secretary, she could easily be considered one of AA's co-founders because she is the one that laid the early framework for all outside communications for AA.  She typed the original manuscript for the big book and she even wrote a story that was printed in the first printing of the first edition titled “Lone Endeavor”. The story was removed in the March 1941 second printing.

The inscription on the first page of the book reads: “Will Richards Morton 1941. A gift from The Alcoholic Foundation, Alcoholics Anonymous.”

This book is in excellent to near mint condition. The red cloth cover shows no wear. The gilt lettering on the spine is bright and shows no wear. The dust jacket is in excellent condition. The jacket has some light edge wear and a stain on the spine. There were some professional reinforcements placed on the backside of the jacket to prevent any tears.

Please view all of the photos for the conditions.