Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Twelfth Printing (October 1948) with Original Dust Jacket
Offered here is an original First Edition, Twelfth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly known as the Big Book, published in October 1948 by Works Publishing Inc.
The Twelfth Printing occupies an interesting place in the history of the First Edition. Published nearly a decade after the original April 1939 printing, it represents the final First Edition printing issued during the 1940s, at a time when Alcoholics Anonymous was expanding rapidly throughout the United States and abroad.
The copyright page identifies the complete printing history through “Twelfth Printing, October, 1948,” while the title page retains the Works Publishing Inc. imprint.
Especially desirable is the presence of the original Twelfth Printing dust jacket, clearly identified as such on the rear flap. Original jackets from First Edition Big Books are increasingly difficult to find and add considerably to the collectibility and presentation of surviving copies.
Condition
Book
The book is in very good overall condition, presenting as a solid and attractive example of the Twelfth Printing.
The original navy-blue cloth binding remains clean and well preserved, with only light general wear, minor rubbing and a few small areas of discoloration consistent with age and use. The boards remain attractive and the binding is firm.
The gilt spine lettering remains bright, clear and highly legible, with “Alcoholics Anonymous” at the head and “Works Publishing Company” at the foot. The blind-stamped lettering on the front board remains visible, though subdued against the dark cloth.
There is light wear at the corners and spine extremities, including minor fraying at the head and foot of the spine.
The interior appears notably clean and well preserved. The pages remain bright for their age, with only light expected toning and occasional minor evidence of use. The book is complete and intact.
The front free endpaper bears the handwritten name “Bob Billions” in blue ink. No other writing or markings are evident in the photographs provided.
Original Dust Jacket
The book retains its original Twelfth Printing dust jacket, an important feature of this copy.
The jacket remains substantially complete and retains strong red, yellow, black and white coloration. The front panel presents well overall, with the iconic Alcoholics Anonymous lettering remaining bold and visually striking.
The jacket shows considerable age and use, including edge wear, rubbing, surface wear, creasing, closed tears, chipping and areas of paper loss, particularly along the upper and lower edges and at the spine extremities. There is additional wear and toning to the spine panel and folds. The upper portion of the spine panel shows staining/discoloration, and the jacket has several small losses and tears along its perimeter.
Both flaps remain present. The rear flap is particularly significant in identifying the jacket as belonging to the Twelfth Printing.
Despite the wear, this is an appealing surviving original jacket that remains highly presentable and materially enhances the desirability of the book.
Book Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Edition: First Edition
Printing: Twelfth Printing
Publication Date: October 1948
Publisher: Works Publishing Inc.
Place: New York City
Printer: The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York
Binding: Original navy-blue cloth
Dust Jacket: Original Twelfth Printing dust jacket
Ownership Marking: “Bob Billions” handwritten on front free endpaper
Collector Notes
The Twelfth Printing represents a compelling point in the evolution of the First Edition Big Book. By October 1948, Alcoholics Anonymous had progressed far beyond the comparatively small fellowship that produced the original 1939 volume, yet the book still retained the format, text and Works Publishing identity associated with the formative First Edition era.
For collectors, the presence of the original dust jacket is particularly important. Many surviving First Edition Big Books have lost their jackets entirely, and original jackets are often encountered only in fragmentary or heavily compromised condition.
This example combines a strong, clean original book with a substantially complete original Twelfth Printing jacket, making it an attractive representative of the later 1940s First Edition period.
A well-preserved First Edition Big Book with its scarce original Twelfth Printing dust jacket — an increasingly difficult combination to find.
