{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-14th-printing-1951-original-dust-jacket","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition, Fourteenth Printing (July 1951) With Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, Fourteenth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, commonly known as the Big book, published in July 1951.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis printing belongs to the later years of the First Edition, when Alcoholics Anonymous had grown far beyond its early pioneering stage but was still using the original First Edition text and format introduced in 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe copyright page clearly identifies the printing history through:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Fourteenth Printing, July, 1951.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe title page carries the 1951 date and Works Publishing Inc. imprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eEspecially desirable is the presence of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal Fourteenth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, identified as such on the rear flap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Context\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBy 1951, Alcoholics Anonymous was expanding rapidly across the United States and internationally. The Fellowship had grown substantially from the small network that existed when the First Printing appeared in 1939, yet the Big Book still retained the original First Edition structure and body of personal stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Fourteenth Printing therefore represents an important later stage of the First Edition period—only a few years before publication of the Second Edition in 1955.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor collectors, these late First Edition printings offer an appealing combination of historical significance, classic First Edition format, and relative accessibility compared with the earliest printings.\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=\"p2\"\u003eThe book is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003every good overall condition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe original navy-blue cloth boards remain attractive, with light rubbing, mild surface wear and a few small areas of discoloration consistent with age and handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe blind-stamped \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering on the front board remains clearly visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe spine is firm and presents very well. The gilt lettering remains \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ebright, sharp and highly legible\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, with only light wear at the spine extremities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe binding remains sound and the book is complete and intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe interior pages are generally clean and well preserved, with light age toning and occasional minor spotting. The front and rear endpapers show some scattered foxing and discoloration, particularly near the edges and pastedowns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eNo writing or ownership 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 Fourteenth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, a major collecting feature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe jacket remains substantially complete and retains strong red, yellow, black and white coloration. The front panel remains visually striking and displays very well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe jacket shows expected age and use, including rubbing, surface wear, creasing, edge tears, chipping and scattered staining\/soiling. There is more noticeable wear at the upper and lower edges, along the folds and at the spine extremities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe rear flap clearly identifies the jacket as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFourteenth Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eDespite its wear, the jacket remains an attractive and important original component of the book and adds substantially to the collector appeal of this copy.\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 Fourteenth Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e July 1951\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 Fourteenth Printing dust jacket\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\"\u003eOriginal dust jackets are among the most important surviving components of First Edition Big Books, and many copies from this period are encountered without them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis example combines a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003esolid original 1951 First Edition book with bright spine gilt and its original, identifiable Fourteenth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIt is an attractive representative of the later First Edition period and a strong addition to a collection focused on the evolution of the Big Book and early Alcoholics Anonymous publishing history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA desirable late First Edition Big Book with its original Fourteenth Printing dust jacket—complete, authentic, and visually appealing.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49988992729330,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/8DAE9B6E-72C6-41C7-9374-3FDF9A18F572.jpg?v=1787890428","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-14th-printing-1951-original-dust-jacket","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}