Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition 6th Printing from 1944 with ODJ

Alcoholics Anonymous — The “Big Book”

First Edition, Sixth Printing (June 1944)
With Original Dust Jacket
Published by Works Publishing, Inc., New York

Description

This is the Sixth Printing of the First Edition (June 1944) of Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism — known affectionately worldwide as “the Big Book.”

This 1944 printing marks a significant milestone in A.A. publishing history. Only 5,000 copies were printed, all bound in navy-blue cloth, which became the standard color for the remainder of the First Edition printings. Earlier printings featured various shades of red, green, royal blue, and baby blue.

A subtle but important production change also occurred at this point: the book’s thickness was reduced due to a change in paper stock. The first five printings are slightly heavier and thicker, while the Sixth and Seventh share this streamlined format — before a more noticeable size reduction in the Eighth Printing.

Physical Details & Condition

Publisher: Works Publishing, Inc., New York

Date: June 1944

Printing: Sixth Printing of the First Edition (5,000 copies)

Binding: Navy-blue cloth with gilt spine lettering

Dust Jacket: Original multicolor jacket present — showing edge wear, small tears, and minor paper loss but retaining strong color and full design

Condition:
This copy is in Good to Very Good condition overall. Navy cloth boards clean with minimal rubbing; corners lightly bumped. Gilt lettering on the spine bright and legible. No handwriting or markings inside. Minor brown stain visible on several pages near the front (see photos). Binding tight and square; pages show expected gentle age toning. Original dust jacket shows moderate edge wear, small tears, and light chipping, typical of surviving wartime jackets, yet remains complete and highly displayable.

A remarkably well-preserved example of this scarce wartime printing — over 80 years old and still structurally sound, crisp, and attractive.

Historical Significance

The Sixth Printing (June 1944) of the Big Book was published during World War II, a time when paper rationing and printing restrictions severely limited book production. With just 5,000 copies released, it is among the scarcer printings of the First Edition.

By mid-1944, membership in Alcoholics Anonymous had grown from a few thousand to nearly 20,000 members, and the Fellowship was beginning to take root internationally. Each First Edition printing tells a part of that early growth story, and this Sixth Printing stands at the crossroads between A.A.’s pioneering phase and its "coming of age".

Collector’s Note

Copies of the 1944 Sixth Printing with their original dust jackets intact are seldom encountered. Many surviving books were well-used by early members or circulated through group libraries, often losing their jackets along the way.

This example, with its clean boards, bright gilt lettering, and original jacket, represents an exceptional piece for collectors of A.A. first editions or students of early recovery history.

A true artifact from Alcoholics Anonymous’s foundational decade — authentic, scarce, and beautifully preserved.