{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-first-edition-16th-printing-from-1954-with-odj-5","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book — First Edition, Sixteenth Printing — August 1954 — Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Final Printing of the First Edition Big Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, Sixteenth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published in August 1954 by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., accompanied by its original red and yellow dust jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Sixteenth Printing holds a special place in Alcoholics Anonymous publishing history as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ethe final printing of the First Edition Big Book\u003c\/span\u003e, bringing to a close the original edition that began in April 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Fifteenth Printing, issued in January 1954, had been intended as the last printing before the introduction of the Second Edition. However, continued demand for the Big Book required another printing in August 1954 to maintain availability until the new edition appeared in 1955.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWith a reported production of just \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e15,700 copies\u003c\/span\u003e, the Sixteenth Printing represents one of the smaller printing runs of the First Edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis final printing marks the end of an important era in A.A. history, preserving the original First Edition text and personal stories that accompanied the Fellowship through its first two decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e First Edition\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Sixteenth Printing\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e August 1954\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Navy blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering and blind-stamped front cover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original Sixteenth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook:\u003c\/b\u003e Good condition overall. The original navy blue cloth boards retain their color, with moderate rubbing, surface marks, and scattered discoloration. There is wear to the corners and spine ends, including some fraying of the cloth. The gilt spine lettering shows noticeable wear and fading but remains legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe binding appears intact, and the photographed interior pages are clean and well preserved, with light age-related toning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThere is a handwritten pencil verse on the rear free endpaper, beginning:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e“Poor little wino \/ Don’t you cry…”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis period-style handwritten verse adds an interesting personal detail to this surviving copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e Original Sixteenth Printing dust jacket in fair condition. The distinctive red and yellow front retains strong color and remains attractive for display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe jacket shows considerable age-related wear, including rubbing, creasing, edge tears, and scattered chipping. There is more substantial damage and paper loss along the spine, particularly toward the upper portion, with evidence of previous tape repairs or reinforcement visible on the reverse. Additional wear and discoloration appear along the folds and edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBoth original jacket flaps are present, including the right flap identifying the Sixteenth Printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for exact condition and appearance.\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=\"p3\"\u003eAs the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003esixteenth and final printing of the First Edition\u003c\/span\u003e, this volume represents the conclusion of the original Big Book’s publishing history before the revised Second Edition appeared in 1955.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIts relatively small reported printing run, historical position, and surviving original dust jacket make it a desirable addition to a collection of First Edition Big Books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn original August 1954 Sixteenth Printing, complete with its period dust jacket, offering collectors an opportunity to own the final printing of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67652178542834,"sku":null,"price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/A89A67DF-1C69-4127-9346-E73E0A26DC80.jpg?v=1791437576","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-first-edition-16th-printing-from-1954-with-odj-5","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}