Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Third Printing (June 1942) - Navy Blue Cloth Variant With Original Dust Jacket

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)

First Edition — Third Printing (June 1942)

Navy Blue Cloth Variant | Works Publishing Company | Original Dust Jacket

Overview

Offered here is an authentic First Edition, Third Printing (June 1942) of Alcoholics Anonymous—the original “Big Book” that carried A.A.’s message deeper into the wartime years, as the Fellowship’s growth accelerated and the text continued to evolve print-by-print.

This copy is the navy blue cloth variant and remains an exceptionally clean, high-grade example, complete with its original dust jacket—a major point of collector value for any early First Edition Big Book.

Why the Third Printing Matters

By June 1942, Alcoholics Anonymous was expanding rapidly. The Second Printing (March 1941) had followed closely on the national attention generated by the Jack Alexander Saturday Evening Post article, and demand for the book continued to rise.

The Third Printing is especially important because it captures early A.A. growth right in the text:

• In “There Is a Solution” (p. 27) the wording changes from “one hundred men…” to “hundreds of men…”—a small shift that reflects big momentum.

• The membership page updates again: in this printing, p. 391 reads “Now We Are Six Thousand.”

First Edition Big Books are a moving target—each printing preserves A.A. at a specific moment, with changes tied directly to real-time growth.

Edition / Printing Identification

Publisher: Works Publishing Company, New York City

Copyright page: lists First Printing (April 1939), Second Printing (March 1941), Third Printing (June 1942)

Title page date: 1942

First Edition format: original First Edition typography/layout with the Third Printing membership and text points expected for this issue

Condition

Book (Navy Blue Cloth): Excellent. Navy cloth is exceptionally clean with no notable wear. Spine gilt is bright and highly legible. Binding remains tight and well-preserved.

Interior: Pages are clean and well-kept. No writing, notes, or markings observed.

Dust Jacket (Original): Complete and displayable. Edge wear and small tears consistent with a surviving wartime-era jacket.

Please review all photos closely—the images show the most accurate representation of jacket wear and overall condition.

Collector Notes

A First Edition Third Printing with an original dust jacket is always desirable; jackets from this period were often discarded, damaged, or replaced. The navy blue cloth variant adds further appeal for collectors building out a complete First Edition cloth-and-printing sequence.

A standout opportunity to acquire a crisp, early Big Book from one of the most historically significant wartime printings.