{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-four-editions-collection","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — The Complete Four-Edition Big Book Collection (1939–2001)","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst, Second, Third \u0026amp; Fourth Editions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eOffered here is a four-volume collection of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, commonly known as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBig Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, representing each of the four major editions published between 1939 and 2001.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis collection brings together a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1948 First Edition, 12th Printing; a 1962 Second Edition, 5th Printing; a 1976 Third Edition, 1st Printing; and a 2001 Fourth Edition, 1st Printing.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eTogether, these books illustrate more than six decades of Alcoholics Anonymous publishing history, documenting the Fellowship’s growth from its early years into an international movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe collection is particularly appealing for its inclusion of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003efirst printings of both the Third and Fourth Editions\u003c\/span\u003e, along with an early First Edition and a Second Edition published during the Fellowship’s formative decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThree books are accompanied by their original dust jackets. The 1948 First Edition has a reproduction dust jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Four Editions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition — 12th Printing (1948)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe First Edition of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e was originally published in April 1939, when the Fellowship consisted of approximately 100 members.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe book introduced A.A.’s program of recovery to the public and included the personal experiences of early members whose stories helped establish the foundation of the Fellowship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e12th Printing, published in 1948\u003c\/span\u003e, represents an important period in A.A. history. By this time, Alcoholics Anonymous had expanded well beyond its beginnings in Akron and New York, aided by growing public awareness, the work of its early members, and the circulation of the Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe First Edition remained in publication through sixteen printings before being replaced by the Second Edition in 1955.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTitle: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEdition: First Edition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinting: 12th Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear: 1948\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Hardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDust Jacket: Reproduction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond Edition — 5th Printing (1962)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe Second Edition was introduced in 1955, coinciding with A.A.’s twentieth anniversary and the historic International Convention in St. Louis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis revised edition reflected the Fellowship’s remarkable expansion during its first two decades. The personal stories were substantially revised, with new accounts added to represent the increasingly diverse experiences of A.A. members.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e5th Printing, published in 1962\u003c\/span\u003e, belongs to a period when Alcoholics Anonymous was firmly established across North America and continuing to expand internationally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis volume is accompanied by its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e, an important feature for collectors of early Second Edition printings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTitle: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEdition: Second Edition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinting: 5th Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear: 1962\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Hardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDust Jacket: Original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThird Edition — First Printing (1976)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe Third Edition marked another significant milestone in the publishing history of the Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eReleased in 1976, this edition reflected the extraordinary growth of Alcoholics Anonymous during the preceding decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eIts new foreword reported that the Fellowship had surpassed one million members, with approximately 28,000 groups meeting in more than 90 countries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe Third Edition retained the fundamental recovery program presented in 1939 while introducing a revised collection of personal stories reflecting the changing membership of A.A.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis volume is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFirst Printing of the Third Edition\u003c\/span\u003e, confirmed by the copyright-page statement:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e“Third Edition, New \u0026amp; Revised, 1976 — First Printing, 1976.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe original dust jacket bears the identifying printing code \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e150M-4\/76(A)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTitle: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEdition: Third Edition, New and Revised\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinting: First Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear: 1976\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Blue hardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDust Jacket: Original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacket Printing Code: 150M-4\/76(A)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFourth Edition — First Printing (2001)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe Fourth Edition was introduced in October 2001, twenty-five years after the publication of the Third Edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWhile preserving the original Twelve Step program and the foundational chapters of the Big Book, the Fourth Edition introduced a revised selection of personal stories reflecting the experiences of a new generation of A.A. members.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe publication represented another important chapter in the Fellowship’s continuing history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis copy is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFirst Printing of the Fourth Edition\u003c\/span\u003e, confirmed by the copyright-page statement:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e“Fourth Edition, New and Revised 2001 — First printing, October 2001.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe book is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003elike-new condition\u003c\/span\u003e and is accompanied by its original dust jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTitle: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEdition: Fourth Edition, New and Revised\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinting: First Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear: October 2001\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Blue hardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDust Jacket: Original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: Like New\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollection Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFirst Edition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e12th Printing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e1948\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eReproduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eSecond Edition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e5th Printing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e1962\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOriginal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThird Edition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e1st Printing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e1976\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOriginal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFourth Edition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e1st Printing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e2001\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOriginal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal Volumes:\u003c\/b\u003e Four hardcover books\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Period:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 1948–2001\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Works Publishing, Inc. \/ Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., as applicable to each edition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe collection consists of four hardcover volumes in varying conditions appropriate to their respective ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1948 First Edition\u003c\/span\u003e is accompanied by a reproduction dust jacket. The \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1962 Second Edition, 1976 Third Edition, and 2001 Fourth Edition\u003c\/span\u003e are accompanied by original dust jackets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Fourth Edition First Printing is in particularly attractive, like-new condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease examine the accompanying photographs for the condition and individual characteristics of each volume.\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=\"p1\"\u003eFor collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous literature, the four major editions of the Big Book represent the principal milestones in the publication history of the Fellowship’s foundational text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003eEach edition reflects a different era in A.A.’s development:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition (1939–1954):\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The early establishment and expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond Edition (1955–1974):\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Fellowship’s growth into an established international organization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThird Edition (1976–2001):\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e A.A.’s expansion to more than one million members worldwide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFourth Edition (2001–present):\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The continuing evolution of the Fellowship’s personal stories for new generations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis collection offers an opportunity to acquire representative copies of all four editions together, including two important first printings and three original dust jackets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAn attractive addition to a private recovery-history library, institutional collection, or display dedicated to the publishing history of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOffered as a complete four-volume collection.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67663903359218,"sku":null,"price":1295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/7A906200-FDC7-41D5-BDD6-83295016C855.jpg?v=1791573918","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-big-book-four-editions-collection","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}