Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition Reprint (1992)

Exact Facsimile of the 1939 First Edition
Published by Carry the Message, Inc., Akron, Ohio

Numbered Copy — #002284

This book is the 1992 printing of the 1939 First Edition reprint.

Carry the Message, Inc. produced the very first reprint ever after the original 1939 Big Book entered the public domain. First Issued in 1985 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous, this reproduction became a milestone publication in AA history. Carry the Message, Inc. continued producing reprints of the 1939 First Edition with printings released in 1989 and 1992.

Book Details

Title: Alcoholics Anonymous — 1992 exact reprint of Original 1939 edition.

Publisher: Carry the Message, Inc., Akron, Ohio

Year: 1992

Edition: Third reprint of the 1939 text after copyright lapse(1992)

Numbered Copy: 002284

Binding: Red hardcover with original dust jacket

Condition: Book Very Good / Dust Jacket Very Good

Description

This reprint is a page-for-page, line-for-line exact reproduction of the original 1939 First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, right down to layout, font, and pagination. Produced in Akron—the birthplace of AA—this edition marked only the third time the Big Book had been faithfully recreated for distribution since the original copyright expired.

The 1985 release by Carry the Message, Inc. generated significant attention within the AA community. Some old-timers viewed it as controversial, concerned about unauthorized reprints of the fellowship's foundational text—but as the story goes, nearly all of them purchased a copy anyway. Today, these numbered copies are treasured by AA historians, archivists, and collectors.

From the Original 50th Anniversary Introduction (excerpt)

“For several years many of us in Alcoholics Anonymous have been concerned with the insidious gradual eroding away from our original, primary purpose of carrying the message…

With the intention to reawaken and reaffirm this purpose… there could be no more fitting occasion to reprint the original Big Book than the 50th Anniversary of the founding of A.A.”

The introduction emphasizes that the reprint was created to inspire a renewed commitment to AA’s founding mission: carrying the message to the still-suffering alcoholic. A portion of proceeds from these books supported the Akron Area Intergroup Office.

Condition

Book – Very Good: Clean and solid with minimal wear. No writing or markings inside. Tight binding and clean pages.

Dust Jacket –Very Good: Original to this 1992 reprint. Exhibits general wear, consistent with age. Intact and complete.

Please see all provided photos for exact condition details.