Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition Light Blue 3rd Printing from 1942 - RDJ

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)

First Edition — Third Printing (June 1942)

Light Blue Cloth Variant · With Reproduction Dust Jacket

Overview

Offered here is a First Edition, Third Printing (June 1942) of Alcoholics Anonymous—a highly desirable early wartime printing from the formative years of the Fellowship. The Third Printing is especially prized by collectors because it captures the Big Book in its early evolution, at a moment when A.A. was rapidly expanding and the language of the text was beginning to reflect that growth.

This copy is the light blue cloth variant (often described by collectors as “sky,” “royal,” or “baby” blue) and includes a reproduction dust jacket for protection and display (original dust jacket not present).

Key Early-Printing Characteristics

Collectors look to the Third Printing for several classic points, including:

• Page 27 revision: the text shifts from “one hundred men who were once” to “hundreds of men who were once,” a small but meaningful change that mirrors the Fellowship’s early growth.

• “Now We Are Six Thousand” heading on page 391, a period snapshot of A.A.’s rising membership.

• Light blue boards, one of the recognized Third Printing cloth variants.

Edition Details

Title: Alcoholics Anonymous

Edition: First Edition

Printing: Third Printing

Printing Date: June 1942

Publisher: Works Publishing, Inc.

Format: Hardcover

Dust Jacket: Reproduction dust jacket included (original not present)

Pagination: 400 pages

Condition

Fair to Good condition. Noticeable wear to boards and spine with staining and fading consistent with age and use. Binding remains firm; pages complete with no torn or missing leaves.

Markings: Pen writing present on the first two pages. No other writing or markings noted.

Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.

Collector Significance

An early wartime First Edition printing from the heart of Big Book collecting—valued for its scarcity, its recognized textual points, and its distinctive blue cloth variant. A strong opportunity for collectors seeking a genuine Third Printing First Edition Big Book, offered here in an affordable “honest-use” condition with a reproduction jacket for display.