{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-7th-printing-1945","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition — 7th Printing, January 1945 | Exceptional Condition","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFirst Edition — Seventh Printing, January 1945\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorks Publishing, Inc., New York City\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWartime Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncludes Reproduction Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is an exceptionally well-preserved \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeventh Printing of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published by Works Publishing, Inc. in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eJanuary 1945\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Seventh Printing occupies a distinctive place among First Edition Big Books. Produced during the final months of World War II, it continued the smaller-format construction introduced to comply with wartime restrictions on paper and other materials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAn “Important Notice” facing the title page explains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e“This is a war time printing and is complete and unabridged in contents.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAlthough the typeface remained unchanged, the physical dimensions and weight of the book were substantially reduced to comply with government regulations for saving paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe copyright page identifies this copy as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Printing, April 1939\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond Printing, March 1941\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThird Printing, June 1942\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFourth Printing, March 1943\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFifth Printing, January 1944\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSixth Printing, June 1944\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeventh Printing, January 1945\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Now We Are Fourteen Thousand”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAnother identifying feature of the Seventh Printing is the historical statement appearing at page 391:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“NOW WE ARE FOURTEEN THOUSAND. JANUARY 1945”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWhen the Big Book first appeared in April 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous consisted of approximately 100 members, concentrated primarily around Akron and New York. By January 1945, membership had grown to approximately \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e14,000\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThat remarkable expansion occurred in less than six years, making this printing an especially interesting snapshot of A.A. at a pivotal point in its early development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook: Exceptionally well preserved.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis is an unusually clean example of the January 1945 Seventh Printing and one of the better-condition wartime First Edition Big Books we have encountered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe original dark blue cloth boards remain remarkably clean and retain strong, deep color. The blind-stamped \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering on the front board remains clearly defined. There is only light rubbing and handling wear to the cloth, with minor wear at the corners and spine extremities consistent with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe spine remains particularly attractive, retaining the original gilt \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering at the head and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorks Publishing Company\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e at the foot. The gilt remains readily visible, with only expected age-related fading. Minor fraying is present at the extreme head and foot of the spine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe binding is strong and the book presents square and structurally sound. The hinges and endpapers remain intact and remarkably clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eInternally, the pages are exceptionally well preserved for a wartime Big Book of this age. The paper shows uniform age toning but remains clean and attractive, with very little evidence of use visible in the photographs. There are no significant inscriptions, ownership markings, or annotations visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOverall, this is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003every clean, remarkably well-preserved example of an original 1945 Seventh Printing\u003c\/span\u003e. First Edition Big Books from this period frequently exhibit substantially greater exterior wear, weakened hinges, staining, writing, and general evidence of decades of use. Finding a Seventh Printing with this degree of preservation is increasingly difficult.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e Includes a high-quality \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ereproduction dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e representing the distinctive red, yellow, black, and white jacket associated with the wartime First Edition Big Books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they provide the best representation of the exceptional condition of this copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Seventh Printing is one of the distinctive \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ewartime printings of the First Edition Big Book\u003c\/span\u003e and was published while Alcoholics Anonymous was still in its first decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIts January 1945 publication date, wartime production notice, and “Now We Are Fourteen Thousand” statement place the book at a fascinating moment in A.A. history—after the Fellowship’s dramatic expansion during the early 1940s but still years before the First Edition was replaced in 1955.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWhile Seventh Printings can still be found, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eexamples surviving in this level of condition are another matter entirely\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor the collector seeking a strong representative example of a wartime First Edition Big Book, this is an exceptionally attractive copy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49954061943026,"sku":null,"price":15000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/05225419-1A4F-4FF4-88E1-B2760CDABC85.jpg?v=1787250943","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-7th-printing-1945","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}