{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-first-edition-twelfth-printing-october-1948-with-original-dust-jacket-copy-1","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Twelfth Printing — 1948 — Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, Twelfth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, commonly known as the Big Book, published in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eOctober 1948 by Works Publishing Inc.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe copyright page records the complete First Edition printing history through:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwelfth Printing, October, 1948\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis copy also retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e, clearly identified as such on the rear flap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Twelfth Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePublished nearly a decade after the original April 1939 edition, the Twelfth Printing represents an important period in the early growth of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhen the Big Book first appeared in 1939, A.A. consisted of approximately 100 members. By the late 1940s, the Fellowship had expanded dramatically across the United States and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThat growth is reflected within the book itself through the section \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Now We Are Thousands,”\u003c\/span\u003e which looks back on the extraordinary development of Alcoholics Anonymous during its first decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDespite that expansion, this printing still retains the classic characteristics of the First Edition Big Book—the Works Publishing imprint, original First Edition format, navy cloth binding, and the distinctive red-and-yellow dust jacket associated with the earliest era of A.A. publishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e First Edition\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Twelfth Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e October 1948\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Works Publishing Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e New York City\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original navy-blue cloth\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginal Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA significant feature of this copy is the survival of its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe jacket retains the classic red, yellow, black, and white First Edition design and remains substantially complete, including the front and rear panels, spine, and both flaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe rear flap is specifically identified \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Twelfth Printing.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOriginal First Edition Big Book jackets are increasingly difficult to find, and even heavily worn examples remain important components of collectible early copies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe book and jacket both show substantial evidence of age and use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe original navy-blue cloth binding remains intact, with the blind-stamped \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/span\u003e title still visible on the front board and the gilt spine lettering remaining strong and readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe cloth shows general rubbing, handling wear, and scattered marks. There is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003enoticeable moisture discoloration along the lower portion of both the front and rear boards\u003c\/span\u003e, creating a lighter tide line across the cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe spine ends and corners show light rubbing and wear, but the binding remains intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe front and rear endpapers show light age toning and scattered discoloration. No ownership inscription or group markings are visible in the photographs provided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe interior remains complete and readable, with normal age toning. Some pages show \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003elocalized moisture staining\u003c\/span\u003e, particularly along the lower and outer margins, consistent with the staining visible on the exterior cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe copyright page remains clean and clearly identifies this copy as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTwelfth Printing, October 1948\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginal Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe original jacket is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eworn condition\u003c\/span\u003e and shows considerable age-related use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThere is substantial rubbing and surface wear throughout, together with creasing, tears, edge wear, and numerous chips and areas of paper loss. The greatest loss occurs along the upper and lower edges, spine extremities, and corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe spine panel shows additional wear and fading. There are also areas of staining and discoloration, particularly toward the lower portions of the jacket and flaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDespite the wear, the jacket remains substantially complete and retains the important original front artwork, spine, rear panel, and both flaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they provide the best representation of the exact condition of this individual copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTwelfth Printing\u003c\/span\u003e represents the closing years of the 1940s era of the First Edition Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePublished in October 1948, it appeared while Alcoholics Anonymous was undergoing extraordinary growth but still several years before the Second Edition replaced the original text in 1955.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis copy is particularly appealing because it retains both its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal Works Publishing navy cloth binding and its scarce original Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhile the book and jacket show clear evidence of use, they remain together as an authentic surviving example of one of the later—and increasingly collectible—printings of the First Edition Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67639101522162,"sku":null,"price":1300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/21FAC7C3-48E6-4B14-887C-8360E558E380.jpg?v=1791210811","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-first-edition-twelfth-printing-october-1948-with-original-dust-jacket-copy-1","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}