{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-comes-of-age-1957-first-printing-harper-brothers-original-dust-jacket","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age — First Edition, First Printing (1957) Harper \u0026 Brothers Issue — Original Dust Jacket","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 in the scarce \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Brothers issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, complete with 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\"\u003eand the title page states:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Brothers, New York\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBy Arrangement with Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAs with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, A.A.’s relationship with Harper created a fascinating parallel publishing history. Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. retained ownership of the work, while Harper brought the book into the commercial book trade and placed A.A.’s story before a broader public audience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors, the Harper issue is immediately distinctive and considerably less commonly encountered than the A.A. Publishing version.\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 transferred responsibility for its world services from its founders and early trustees to the Fellowship through the General Service Conference structure.\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 suggest that A.A. believed it had reached some final state of maturity. Rather, it marked the point at which the Fellowship accepted responsibility for its own future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book combines Bill W.’s account of A.A.’s development with the story of its 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 enormously 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 document the medical, religious, professional, and organizational relationships that helped shape Alcoholics Anonymous during its formative decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Harper \u0026amp; Brothers Issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Brothers version\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, produced for the wider commercial market rather than A.A.’s internal distribution network.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eSeveral features identify the Harper issue:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTitle page bearing the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Brothers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e imprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eStatement \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“By Arrangement with Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarper “H-B” publisher device 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\u003eTeal\/green boards with a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eblack cloth spine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold spine lettering and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e at the foot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarper emblem stamped on the front board\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal green, blue, and white Harper 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 jacket also promotes the book specifically to readers outside the Fellowship, describing it as the story of a movement then numbering approximately 200,000 members and emphasizing its historical and social significance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThat commercial presentation makes the Harper issue particularly enjoyable to compare with the edition distributed directly through Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.\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 Harper \u0026amp; Brothers dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe jacket shows noticeable age and use, including rubbing, edge wear, small chips and short tears, creasing, and scattered surface marks. There is a larger area of paper loss or abrasion near the lower left corner of the front panel. The jacket also shows adhesive or tape residue\/staining on portions of the flaps and rear panel. Despite the wear, the jacket remains substantially complete and retains strong color and good overall presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book itself remains solid and attractive. The teal boards retain strong color, with light surface wear and some corner wear. The black cloth spine remains intact, and the gold lettering is clearly readable. The front board retains the Harper emblem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe endpapers show considerable age-related spotting and staining, including multiple circular and irregular areas of discoloration. There is also evidence of old adhesive or tape contact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eInterior pages show general age toning consistent with the period. The title, contents, 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 Major Book in A.A. History — In a Scarce Publishing Variant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age\u003c\/i\u003e is one of the central historical works of the Fellowship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhere the Big Book documented the recovery program and the \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 told the story of how Alcoholics Anonymous itself developed, survived, organized, and ultimately assumed responsibility for its own future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Brothers First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e adds another dimension to that history. It represents A.A.’s continuing effort to reach readers beyond the Fellowship through established commercial publishing channels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWith its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eH-G First Edition designation, distinctive Harper binding, and original dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, this is an important and increasingly difficult-to-find variant for collectors of early Alcoholics Anonymous literature and publishing history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49925861769458,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/44BC9B21-33D9-4E8C-845A-8EB1AE632A06.jpg?v=1786764136","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-comes-of-age-1957-first-printing-harper-brothers-original-dust-jacket","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}