Alcoholics Anonymous Second Edition First Printing from 1955 - RDJ

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism

Second Edition — First Printing (1955)

Published by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., New York City

Includes a reproduction dust jacket styled after the original 1955 release.

Offered here is an authentic First Printing of the Second Edition (1955) of Alcoholics Anonymous—the Big Book—a landmark edition that represents one of the most important transitions in the publishing history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Second Edition was introduced in conjunction with A.A.’s 1955 International Convention in St. Louis, twenty years after the meeting of Bill W. and Dr. Bob that marked the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous. By this point, the small fellowship represented by the original 1939 Big Book had developed into an international movement with thousands of groups and more than 150,000 members.

While the basic recovery text remained substantially unchanged, the personal-story section was extensively revised to better represent the rapidly expanding Fellowship. The result was a Big Book that preserved the message carried by the First Edition while documenting an entirely new generation of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This copy is an original 1955 First Printing published by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. and is accompanied by a reproduction of the original-style Second Edition dust jacket for protection and display.

Why the 1955 Second Edition Matters

The arrival of the Second Edition marked the end of the pioneering era represented by the First Edition Big Book and the beginning of a new chapter in A.A.’s history.

When Alcoholics Anonymous was originally published in 1939, the Fellowship consisted of only a small number of recovering alcoholics. Sixteen years later, A.A. had expanded across the United States and into other countries.

That tremendous growth created a practical problem for the Big Book: many of the original personal stories no longer adequately represented the increasingly diverse membership of Alcoholics Anonymous.

For the Second Edition, the familiar program of recovery was retained while the personal-story section was substantially rebuilt. New accounts represented alcoholics from a broader range of backgrounds, professions, ages, circumstances, and geographic areas.

The Second Edition therefore became much more than simply another printing of the Big Book. It was A.A.‘s first major revision of its foundational text and a physical record of the Fellowship’s transformation from a small American movement into an international organization.

Identifying the First Printing

The earliest Second Edition Big Books can be challenging to identify because the first several printings did not simply state a printing number on the copyright page.

This copy contains the characteristics associated with the 1955 First Printing, including:

• The title page identifies Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., New York City, and is dated 1955.
• The copyright page states “Second Edition, New and Revised, 1955.”
• The copyright page also retains the early Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. identification.
• On page xx, the well-known First Printing typographical error “realy” appears in the sentence concerning alcoholics who came to A.A. and really tried.
• The text contains the contemporary 1955 references to A.A.’s approximately 6,000 groups, helping distinguish the earliest state of the Second Edition.

Together, these points identify this volume as an original 1955 First Printing of the Second Edition.

A Book From A.A.’s Era of Explosive Growth

One of the fascinating things about the Second Edition is that its introductory material captures Alcoholics Anonymous at a precise moment in its development.

The new Foreword describes the Fellowship as having grown to nearly 6,000 groups and more than 150,000 recovered alcoholics in the sixteen years following publication of the original Big Book.

The Second Edition also preserved the Foreword to the First Edition, allowing readers to see the remarkable contrast between the tiny Fellowship that introduced itself to the world in 1939 and the organization A.A. had become by 1955.

Other additions and revisions reflected the same maturation. The Second Edition expanded supporting material and incorporated the Twelve Traditions, principles that had developed through the experience of A.A.’s formative years and helped provide a framework for maintaining the unity of a rapidly expanding Fellowship.

For collectors, the First Printing of the Second Edition therefore occupies a particularly important position: it stands directly between the pioneering First Edition era and the modern history of the Big Book.

Edition Details

Title: Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Edition: Second Edition — New and Revised
Printing: First Printing
Year: 1955
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.
Place of Publication: New York City
Printer: The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York
Format: Hardcover
Binding: Original blue cloth
Dust Jacket: Reproduction dust jacket included; original jacket is not present

Condition

This copy is in fair to good condition, showing substantial evidence of age, use, and previous ownership while remaining an appealing example of this historically important printing.

The original blue cloth boards show general rubbing, fading, discoloration, spotting, and staining. The rear board displays particularly noticeable areas of uneven coloration and staining. There is wear at the corners and along the board edges.

The spine is heavily faded and discolored, having changed considerably from the original blue cloth color. The gilt spine lettering remains visible but is significantly dulled. There is rubbing and fraying at both the head and foot of the spine, with additional wear along the joints and extremities.

The interior shows age toning and evidence of moisture exposure. Water staining is visible along portions of the upper margins and outer edges of the preliminary pages, including the title, copyright, and contents pages. Additional moisture staining and discoloration can be seen on the endpapers and pastedowns. The staining varies throughout the areas pictured but does not prevent the text from being read.

The front free endpaper contains multiple handwritten previous-owner notations, including names, numbers, pricing notation, and an address identifying Alcohall Rehabilitation, 110 Blue Ridge Dr., Martinez, California. These markings are part of the book’s previous history and have been left intact.

Despite the cosmetic wear and staining, the interior text shown remains clear and legible, and the volume retains its complete appearance as an original 1955 Big Book.

The included dust jacket is a reproduction, not an original 1955 jacket. It is clean and attractive and recreates the distinctive appearance of the early Second Edition jacket while providing protection and a strong display presentation.

Please examine all photographs carefully. They are an important part of the condition description and show the exact copy being offered.

The 1955 First Printing of the Second Edition Big Book is one of the cornerstone volumes in an advanced Alcoholics Anonymous collection. It captures A.A. at a defining moment—twenty years after its beginnings, sixteen years after publication of the original Big Book, and at the point when the Fellowship had grown large enough that its foundational book needed to reflect an entirely new generation of recovering alcoholics.

For collectors assembling the major editions and printings of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Second Edition, First Printing represents an essential milestone in the history of the Big Book and the worldwide growth of A.A.