{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-extremely-rare-first-edition-7th-printing-big-book-from-1945-rdj-copy","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Seventh Printing — January 1945","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRare Wartime Printing Error | Original Blue Cloth | Reproduction Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, Seventh Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published by Works Publishing Inc. in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJanuary 1945\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe Seventh Printing occupies one of the most unusual and difficult-to-find positions in the First Edition printing history of the Big Book. Produced during World War II, it represents a brief transitional moment when Alcoholics Anonymous attempted to reduce the physical size and weight of the book in response to wartime paper-conservation requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Wartime Seventh Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAt the front of the book is the important printed wartime notice:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIMPORTANT NOTICE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is a war time printing and is complete and unabridged in contents. While the type face remains unchanged, the book has been drastically reduced in size and weight in order to conform with Government regulations for saving paper.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe historical peculiarity of the Seventh Printing is that despite this notice, the book was produced in the larger format rather than the reduced wartime size described.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe Seventh Printing appeared in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eJanuary 1945\u003c\/span\u003e. The following \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eEighth Printing was issued in February 1945\u003c\/span\u003e in the smaller wartime format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThat extremely short interval between the two printings, together with the production anomaly, has made the Seventh Printing one of the most elusive First Edition Big Books encountered by collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe copyright page clearly identifies:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeventh Printing, January, 1945\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe title page reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than Fourteen Thousand Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eand retains the original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWorks Publishing Inc., New York City\u003c\/span\u003e imprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Now We Are Fourteen Thousand”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAnother important feature of this printing appears on page 391:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNOW WE ARE FOURTEEN THOUSAND.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eJANUARY 1945\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhen the Big Book was originally published in April 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous consisted of approximately 100 members.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBy January 1945, the fellowship had grown to more than \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e14,000 men and women\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis section makes the Seventh Printing a particularly interesting historical snapshot of A.A. during an extraordinary period of growth — published while World War II was still underway and only six years after the first Big Book appeared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003efair to good overall condition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, showing substantial exterior wear from age and use while remaining intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original blue cloth binding is present, with the blind-stamped \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering still visible across the front board.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe boards show significant rubbing, discoloration, staining, surface marks and general wear. The rear board has particularly noticeable staining and uneven coloration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThere is considerable wear along the upper edges of the boards, including fraying and areas of cloth loss. The head of the spine also shows pronounced wear and fraying. Additional rubbing and wear are present at the corners and lower spine extremity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe spine retains the original gilt lettering:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorks Publishing Company\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe gilt remains readily legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe binding remains intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe interior is considerably cleaner than the exterior. Pages show expected age toning and occasional light spotting or evidence of use, but overall present well for an 80-year-old volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe important \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ewartime notice\u003c\/span\u003e, title page, copyright page identifying the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSeventh Printing\u003c\/span\u003e, and the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Now We Are Fourteen Thousand — January 1945”\u003c\/span\u003e section are all present and clearly legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eNo significant interior writing or extensive markings are apparent in the photographs provided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReproduction Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book is accompanied by a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ereproduction dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e based upon the early First Edition jacket design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe jacket presents very well and gives the book an attractive period appearance when displayed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIt is important to note that this is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003enot an original 1945 dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and is included strictly as a reproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e First Edition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Seventh Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e January 1945\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Works Publishing Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e New York City\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Original blue cloth\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Reproduction\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWartime Notice:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Present\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePage 391:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e “Now We Are Fourteen Thousand — January 1945”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe Seventh Printing is not simply another early First Edition Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIts significance comes from the circumstances under which it was produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book contains a wartime notice announcing that its physical dimensions had been substantially reduced to conserve paper — yet this printing remained in the larger format. Only one month later, the Eighth Printing appeared in the smaller wartime configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThat brief production window has made the Seventh Printing exceptionally difficult to locate relative to most other First Edition printings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eCondition is secondary to scarcity with an issue such as this. Although this example clearly shows the evidence of decades of handling and use, it retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal binding, complete historical text, wartime notice and the identifying January 1945 Seventh Printing statement\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors attempting to assemble the sixteen printings of the First Edition Big Book, the Seventh is frequently one of the most challenging spaces to fill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn important wartime printing of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and a compelling surviving artifact from the early growth of A.A.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jeff Phillips","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50092860342514,"sku":null,"price":7500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/43909D6F-26DF-475D-8821-BADB80B9E1EF.jpg?v=1789517903","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-extremely-rare-first-edition-7th-printing-big-book-from-1945-rdj-copy","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}