{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-comes-of-age-1957-first-printing-aa-publishing-original-dust-jacket","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age — First Edition, First Printing (1957) Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1957 First Edition, First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and retaining its original dust jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe copyright page is correctly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFIRST EDITION\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eH-G\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eidentifying this as the original 1957 printing of one of the most important historical works published by Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, produced for distribution through the Fellowship itself. At the same time, Harper \u0026amp; Brothers handled a separate commercial issue intended for bookstores and other non-A.A. outlets, creating two distinctly different presentations of the same landmark book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors, the A.A. Publishing and Harper editions make a particularly interesting pair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Story of A.A. “Coming of Age”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePublished in 1957, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e tells the story of the Fellowship’s development from its earliest years through the historic \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1955 St. Louis Convention\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, when Alcoholics Anonymous formally assumed responsibility for its own world services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThat event gave the book its title.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e“Coming of age” did not mean that A.A. believed it had reached some final state of maturity. Rather, it marked the point when the Fellowship accepted responsibility for its own future and the continuing stewardship of its service structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book traces the development of A.A.’s Three Legacies:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRecovery — Unity — Service\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eIt also preserves the perspectives of several important friends of Alcoholics Anonymous, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr. Harry M. Tiebout\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr. W. W. Bauer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFather Edward Dowling, S.J.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRev. Samuel Shoemaker\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBernard B. Smith\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eTogether, their contributions provide an unusual firsthand look at the medical, religious, professional, and organizational relationships that helped shape Alcoholics Anonymous during its formative years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA.A. Publishing version\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e of the 1957 First Printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eSeveral features identify this issue:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTitle page reading \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., New York\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarly A.A. circle-and-triangle emblem on the title page\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCopyright page marked \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“FIRST EDITION H-G”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBlue boards with a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eblack cloth spine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold spine lettering identifying \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA.A. Publishing Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal blue, purple, and white dust jacket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal jacket price of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e$4.00\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe A.A. Publishing issue differs noticeably from the Harper version, which used a different binding, different jacket colors, the Harper imprint, and a separate commercial presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eTogether, the two versions document how A.A. was simultaneously publishing for its own Fellowship while reaching a wider outside audience through Harper \u0026amp; Brothers.\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\"\u003eThis copy retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal 1957 Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe jacket shows noticeable age and wear, including rubbing, soiling, edge wear, small chips and short tears, creasing, and scattered staining. There is heavier wear along the folds, edges, corners, and spine ends. Despite the wear, the jacket remains substantially complete and retains the distinctive blue-and-purple striped design and early A.A. imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe blue boards remain attractive overall, with light surface wear and some rubbing along the edges and corners. The black cloth spine remains intact, and the gold lettering is clearly readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe front pastedown contains a previous owner’s handwritten address and notation. There is also a vertical area of discoloration near the gutter. The front free endpaper appears to be absent. The rear endpapers show general age toning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe interior pages show normal age toning but appear generally clean in the photographs. The title and copyright pages remain clearly legible, including the important \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eH-G First Edition designation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe binding appears sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the exact condition of this copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Foundational Work in A.A. History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age\u003c\/i\u003e occupies a special place in recovery literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhere the Big Book presented the program of recovery and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e explored the principles behind personal recovery and group unity, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eA.A. Comes of Age\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e documented the development of the Fellowship itself—how it grew, organized, survived, and ultimately accepted responsibility for its own future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1957 A.A. Publishing First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, complete with its original dust jacket and H-G First Edition designation, is an important early collectible and a particularly meaningful companion to the much scarcer Harper \u0026amp; Brothers issue.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49925867438322,"sku":null,"price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/E6FBEC71-BA73-47C3-8F7A-A9C97D33AD0A.jpg?v=1786764489","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-comes-of-age-1957-first-printing-aa-publishing-original-dust-jacket","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}