{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-first-printing-1939-red-cloth","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition First Printing from 1939","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFirst Edition, First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/span\u003e, published by the Works Publishing Company in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eApril 1939\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is where the Big Book began.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe First Printing introduced the program of Alcoholics Anonymous in book form and gave the young Fellowship the name by which it would become known throughout the world. Approximately \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e4,650 copies\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e were produced, making this not only the earliest Big Book, but the most important and sought-after printing of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal red cloth binding with gilt lettering\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and is accompanied by a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ereproduction of the famous red-and-yellow “Circus” dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Original “Big Book”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBill Wilson and Hank Parkhurst envisioned a substantial book that could be sold for $3.50. To give buyers a sense that they were receiving something substantial for the price, inexpensive thick paper was selected and the text was printed with unusually generous margins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe result was an exceptionally large volume—and the nickname \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Big Book”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e was born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original dust jacket was designed by New York A.A. member and artist \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRay Campbell\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, whose story, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Artist’s Concept\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, appears in the book. Its bold red, yellow, black and white design eventually became known among collectors as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Circus” jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIdentifying the 1939 First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis copy exhibits the important characteristics associated with the original April 1939 printing:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorks Publishing Company\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e title-page imprint dated 1939\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eApril 1939 copyright statement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePrinted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eOriginal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ered cloth binding with gilt lettering\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Doctor’s Opinion\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e beginning on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003epage 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe famous \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003erepeated-line printing error on page 234\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, corrected in later printings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe original collection of personal stories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Artist’s Concept\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e by Ray Campbell\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eLone Endeavor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e beginning on page 391, a story unique to the First Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal Appendix beginning on page 397\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe First Printing preserves the Big Book at its earliest stage, before subsequent printings began altering its stories, preliminary pages and other details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Original Personal Stories\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIts historic story section includes accounts associated with many important figures from the earliest years of Alcoholics Anonymous, including \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr. Bob Smith, Hank Parkhurst, Clarence Snyder, Ernie Galbraith and Ray Campbell\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eAmong the stories are \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eDoctor Bob’s Nightmare\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Unbeliever\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Feminine Victory\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHome Brewmeister\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Seventh Month Slip\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Artist’s Concept\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLone Endeavor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe presence of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLone Endeavor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e is particularly notable because it appeared \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eonly in the First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\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 copy is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003egood overall condition and presents very nicely for an original 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 attractive, with strong gilt lettering to both the front board and spine. The cloth shows expected age and use, including areas of rubbing, light staining and some fading. The corners and spine ends show wear consistent with an 87-year-old volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe binding remains sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ereplacement front endpaper has been professionally\/previously added\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. The remaining pages are original and intact. The interior is notably clean, with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eno writing or markings observed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. Pages show the expected age toning, particularly along the exposed edges, but remain clean and highly readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe rear pastedown\/endpaper shows remnants and staining from what appears to have been previously affixed material, as shown in the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA handsome \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ereproduction “Circus” dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e is included and gives the book the appearance of its original 1939 presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Cornerstone of A.A. History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFew books occupy a more important place in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous than the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eApril 1939 First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePublished when A.A. consisted of only a small number of recovering alcoholics, this was the book created to carry their solution beyond the reach of the fledgling groups. From these first copies came the name \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, the nickname \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Big Book,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and the published program that would eventually reach millions of people around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1939 First Edition, First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e remains the cornerstone of a serious collection of Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49987780542706,"sku":null,"price":12500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/4564F274-95B8-441C-B3F0-810434AAA55D.jpg?v=1733333287","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-first-edition-first-printing-1939-red-cloth","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}