{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-12th-printing-1948-original-dust-jacket","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Twelfth Printing (October 1948) with Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, Twelfth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, commonly known as the Big Book, published in October 1948 by Works Publishing Inc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003efinal First Edition printing issued during the 1940s\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, at a time when Alcoholics Anonymous was expanding rapidly throughout the United States and abroad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe copyright page identifies the complete printing history through \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Twelfth Printing, October, 1948,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e while the title page retains the Works Publishing Inc. imprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eEspecially desirable is the presence of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe book is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003every good overall condition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, presenting as a solid and attractive example of the Twelfth Printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe gilt spine lettering remains \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ebright, clear and highly legible\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThere is light wear at the corners and spine extremities, including minor fraying at the head and foot of the spine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe front free endpaper bears the handwritten name \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Bob Billions”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e in blue ink. No other writing or markings are evident in the photographs provided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginal Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe book retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, an important feature of this copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe jacket remains substantially complete and retains strong red, yellow, black and white coloration. The front panel presents well overall, with the iconic \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering remaining bold and visually striking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe jacket shows considerable age and use, including \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eedge wear, rubbing, surface wear, creasing, closed tears, chipping and areas of paper loss\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBoth flaps remain present. The rear flap is particularly significant in identifying the jacket as belonging to the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwelfth Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eDespite the wear, this is an appealing surviving original jacket that remains highly presentable and materially enhances the desirability of the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e First Edition\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Twelfth Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e October 1948\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Works Publishing Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e New York City\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original navy-blue cloth\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOwnership Marking:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e “Bob Billions” handwritten on front free endpaper\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector Notes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Twelfth Printing represents a compelling point in the evolution of the First Edition Big Book. By October 1948, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor collectors, the presence of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal dust jacket is particularly important\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. Many surviving First Edition Big Books have lost their jackets entirely, and original jackets are often encountered only in fragmentary or heavily compromised condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis example combines a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003estrong, clean original book with a substantially complete original Twelfth Printing jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, making it an attractive representative of the later 1940s First Edition period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA well-preserved First Edition Big Book with its scarce original Twelfth Printing dust jacket — an increasingly difficult combination to find.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49988993155314,"sku":null,"price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/79DCEA89-8324-462A-920C-B74FEC1818EA.jpg?v=1787890542","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-12th-printing-1948-original-dust-jacket","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}