The TRUE First Printing of the First UK Edition of the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous from 1954 - Great Britain

First Printing Points of Authenticity

1. Cover: Textured blue cover
2. Spine: Gilt words “Alcoholics Anonymous”. No indication of the publisher on the spine.
3. Title Page: Works Publishing Inc., New York City and Alanon Publications – BM/Found. London W.C.I.
4. Copyright Page: US printings up to 14^th Printing, July, 1951. Then ‘First Printing in England 1954’.

The binding of the book is similar to contemporary American printings except that this UK binding has blue boards that are textured with a woven pattern rather than the uniformly smooth blue boards used in the 1950’s American printings of the book. The front cover has the embossed words “Alcoholics Anonymous” (similar to the US version) and the words “Alcoholics Anonymous” printed in gilt at the top of the spine.

This book does not have the original jacket. If the book had the jacket, it would be blank on all of the outside surfaces: i.e. no printing on the front, rear, or spine of the dust jacket. The only printing on the jacket occurs on the inside of the front and rear flaps which has two quotes from the book and notes the price of “25s” in the text found on the inside front flap.

The book notes that the publisher in the USA as “Works Publishing” while the UK publisher is identified as “Alanon Publications”

There is no publication date noted on the title page, but the copyright page carries the notation “First Printing in England 1954” appearing beneath a list of all the US printings of the book from the First Printing in “April, 1939” to the Fourteenth Printing in “July, 1951”.

The type, text, spacing, and footnotes of this book are all identical to that found in the Fourteenth US Printing from July, 1951.

We can authenticate this as the very first printing of the book published in the UK from two sources:

First:

There is a copy similar to this in Bill Wilson’s personal library, currently housed at his home, Stepping Stones, in Bedford Hills, New York. The catalog listing reads:

Alcoholics Anonymous 1939, First Printing in England by Works Publishing and Alanon Publications, 1954. Dark blue cover, plain book jacket with printing only on the inside. Inscribed: “To Bill Wilson, In humble gratitude for the things which have come to us through God and the channels He has used. Bill Hopper, Joe Tomkins, Bob Bauld, Alan Booth. Dec. 1954.”

Second:

A copy similar to this is also identified and talked about in the official GSO archives.

Notes include: “it is believed that there were only 200 copies of the British First Edition/First Printing of the Big Book published in Great Britain, and the same four people (who were responsible for producing this UK Edition) signed only ten copies of that edition.”

Note: This is one of the first 200 copies printed! There are only two known copies to have the original dust jacket, one is in a private collection and the other being the copy at Stepping Stones. This is not one of the ten signed copies.

The following text was added in this book at the bottom of the Foreword:

“In arranging for the re-printing of this book for distribution in the Sterling Area, we acknowledge with extreme gratitude the tremendous help we have received from the American Co-Founders, the Alcoholic Foundation and the General Service Head Quarters of New York; firstly in giving us permission to re-print and then for their cheerfully given encouragement and generous material help. In making this work available more freely within the Sterling Area it is our earnest hope that many thousands more will find, as we have found, recovery from alcoholism and a new and happy way of living.”

Here are a couple quotes from the AA 1955 Conference Report regarding the UK printing of the Big Book:

From Page 15: “During the past year Alanon Publications, Ltd., a British corporation, was formed in London and has published the Big Book for distribution in the Sterling area. Certain Conference-approved pamphlets are also being distributed through the same agency. This development will serve a large number of groups which had previously found it virtually impossible to remit funds to this country for A.A. literature.”

From Page 17: “Authorized A.A. Publishing, Inc., to conclude the agreement with Alanon Publications, Ltd. in Great Britain recognizing that copyright ownership of the book, “Alcoholics Anonymous” remains with the General Service Board of A.A., Inc. This agreement pertains to the British edition of the book. The agreement was concluded in line with this recommendation after legal consultation.”

Here is some great information about the identification markings for First Edition Big Books published in the United Kingdom that has been compiled by Sean C.

Alcoholics Anonymous United Kingdom

Identification of First Edition Big Books

Points to consider for identification:

1. Dust jacket design
2. Presence or absence of WW logo on spine of book and/or jacket
3. Title page stated publishers
4. Copyright page dates or absence of dates

Printer’s Proof:

1. Looks to be a soft cover from photos so no DJ, unique to proof copy
2. No WW or any mention of The World’s Work anywhere
3. Works Publishing Inc and Sterling Trust Publishing Co
4. US printings up to 14th 1951, then ‘First English Printing 1953’

Notes: possibly only 2 in existence

First Printing:

1. Blank front, spine and back, printed flaps. Both have ‘free examination’ paragraph and both mention Alanon Publications
2. No WW or any mention of The World’s Work anywhere
3. Works Publishing Inc and Alanon Publications
4. US printings up to 14th 1951, then ‘First Printing in England 1954’

Notes: claims of print run of 2000 or as little as 200, 10 of which were signed by the four people who made the book possible

Second Impression:

1. No WW or any mention of The World’s Work anywhere
2. Works Publishing Inc and Alanon Publications
3. US printings up to 14th 1951, the ‘First Printed in England 1954, Second Impression 1956’

Third Impression:

1. No WW on spine or any mention of The World’s Work anywhere
2. Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Inc Ney York and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Co  Great Britain and Ireland
3. US printings up to 14th 1951, the ‘First Printed in England 1954, Second Impression 1956, Third Impression 1958’

Fourth Impression:

1. Red and yellow jacket, flaps match the 1st 1st exactly, including saying Alanon Publications
2. WW on spine of book but not jacket, no other mention of The World’s Work anywhere
3. Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Inc Ney York and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Co  Great Britain and Ireland
4. No dates of any kind, verso of title page only says at the bottom ‘Printed and Bound in England by Hazell Watson and Viney LTD Aylesbury and Slough’

Fifth Impression:

1. Red and yellow jacket, flaps lack the ‘free examination’ paragraph, mentions The World’s Work and not Alanon Publications
2. WW on both book spine and jacket spine
3. ‘Distributed by The World’s Work… on behalf of Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Inc New York and Alanon Publications…’
4. No dates of any kind, verso of title page only says at the bottom ‘Printed and Bound in England by Hazell Watson and Viney LTD Aylesbury and Slough’

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By verifying the different markings on the cover and inside this book, you can identify that this specific book is the First UK Printing of the First Edition.

This book is in excellent condition. The cover looks great and shows no wear. The gilt lettering is bright and looks great. The book is fully intact with no missing or damaged pages. There are two pencil markings on the inside of the front cover and on the first page of the book. There is no other writing or markings inside the book.

Please view all of the photos for the conditions.