1976 Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book – Third Edition, First Printing – (ODJ)

Alcoholics Anonymous — The Big Book

Third Edition, First Printing (March 1976)
With Original Dust Jacket

Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Publication Date: March 1976
Dust Jacket Code: 150M–4/76(A)

Description

Offered here is an authentic First Printing of the Third Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in March 1976 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., and complete with its original dust jacket.

The Third Edition marked a major milestone in A.A. history. Released at a time when worldwide membership had surpassed one million, this edition reflected the Fellowship’s dramatic growth and expanding diversity. While the core text (pages 1–164) remained unchanged from the original 1939 First Edition—preserving A.A.’s foundational message—the personal stories section was substantially revised.

This edition introduced forty-four personal stories, including thirteen new accounts, offering a broader and more representative picture of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous during the 1970s.

The First Printing of the Third Edition is identified by the dust jacket code “150M–4/76(A)”, printed on the bottom of the back flap—present on this copy.

Edition Details

• Third Edition, First Printing

• Published March 1976

• Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

• Navy blue cloth boards with gilt spine lettering

• Original dust jacket present

• Dust jacket code: 150M–4/76(A)

Condition

Book:
Good condition overall. The original blue boards remain attractive, with light surface wear and rubbing and some wear at the corners and spine ends. The gilt spine lettering remains bright and clearly legible. Binding appears sound.

The interior shows scattered age-related staining and spotting. There is handwritten notation on the front endpaper reading “6 PM – 7 AM.” More handwritten numbers/notations appear on the blank page facing the beginning of “Bill’s Story,” including “18006374041.” There is also visible staining in this area and occasional smaller marks elsewhere. The text remains clean and readily readable overall.

Dust Jacket:
Original First Printing dust jacket with the identifying 150M–4/76(A) code present on the rear flap. The jacket is complete but shows considerable use, including rubbing and surface wear, edge and corner wear, small tears and chips, creasing, and areas of discoloration/soiling. The spine remains intact and the jacket retains strong overall color and presentation despite the wear.

Please review all photographs carefully for exact condition details.

Collector Significance

• First Printing of the Third Edition

• Issued during a pivotal period of explosive A.A. growth

• Retains the original 1939 core text

• Identifiable first-printing dust jacket code present

• Increasingly collectible with original jacket intact

A solid and historically meaningful example of a Third Edition First Printing, ideal for collectors of A.A. literature, recovery history enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a well-documented copy from this important transitional era in Alcoholics Anonymous publishing.