{"product_id":"aa-big-book-first-edition-first-printing-april-1939","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book — First Edition, First Printing — April 1939","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published by the Works Publishing Company in April 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is the earliest printing of the book that gave Alcoholics Anonymous its name and introduced its program of recovery to the world. Published when A.A. was still a small and largely unknown fellowship, the 1939 First Printing represents the true beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous in published form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe unusually large book was bound in red cloth with gilt lettering and soon became known simply as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Big Book.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Today, surviving First Printings are among the most important and desirable artifacts in A.A. and recovery history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Printing Identification\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis copy displays the recognized features of the April 1939 First Printing, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal red cloth binding with gilt lettering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorks Publishing Company imprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApril 1939 copyright statement\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Doctor’s Opinion\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e beginning on page 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal First Printing text and personal stories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepeated-line printing error on page 234\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Lone Endeavor,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e appearing only in the First Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e First Edition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e First Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e April 1939\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Works Publishing Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e New York City\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e The Cornwall Press, Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Original red cloth with gilt lettering\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Reproduction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis is an \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eexceptionally attractive and well-preserved example of the 1939 First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original red cloth remains remarkably bright and vibrant, with very little of the fading commonly encountered on these books. The gilt lettering on both the front cover and spine remains strong and beautiful. There is only light exterior wear, primarily at the corners and spine ends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe binding is solid and secure, and the interior remains clean and well preserved with expected age toning. There is an ownership blind stamp on the preliminary pages and some age-related discoloration to the endpapers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eScattered pencil underlining, margin marks, and occasional brief notations appear within the text. Rather than an untouched shelf copy, this was clearly a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBig Book that was actually read and used\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. The markings are unobtrusive and offer a wonderful reminder of the purpose for which this book was originally published—to be studied, shared, and used in recovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOverall, this is one of the more impressive original First Printings we have encountered, particularly for the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003evibrant red cloth, strong gilt, solid binding, and outstanding overall presentation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA reproduction dust jacket is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for additional condition details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe First Edition, First Printing of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e is the cornerstone of A.A. collecting—the original book through which a small fellowship of recovering alcoholics first presented its solution to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eMore than 85 years later, this copy remains remarkably well preserved while still carrying evidence that an earlier reader actually engaged with its message.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn outstanding example of the April 1939 First Printing and a centerpiece-level book for a serious collection of Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery history.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49986463662322,"sku":null,"price":18000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/IMG-7862.png?v=1787806725","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/aa-big-book-first-edition-first-printing-april-1939","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}