{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-first-edition-twelfth-printing-october-1948-with-original-dust-jacket-copy","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Twelfth Printing (October 1948) with 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 Twelfth Printing occupies an important place in the history of the First Edition. Published nearly a decade after the original April 1939 printing, it was the final First Edition printing issued during the 1940s, at a time when Alcoholics Anonymous was expanding rapidly throughout the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe title page retains the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWorks Publishing Inc.\u003c\/span\u003e imprint, while the copyright page records the complete 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\u003eA Period A.A. Association\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAn especially interesting feature of this copy is the period ownership material found inside the front cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA small label reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLeroy Annis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eDover Foxcroft\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBelow it are purple stamps reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDOVER GROUP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eR F D 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThese markings provide a tangible connection to the book’s earlier life and appear to associate it with an A.A. group in the Dover-Foxcroft, Maine area. No further provenance is represented beyond the physical markings present in the book.\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\"\u003eBy the time this printing appeared in October 1948, Alcoholics Anonymous had grown dramatically from the small fellowship that produced the original 1939 Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe title page now reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe volume also contains the section \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Now We Are Thousands”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, reflecting the remarkable expansion of A.A. during the first decade of the Fellowship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor collectors, Twelfth Printings are particularly appealing because they still retain the classic First Edition format and Works Publishing identity while representing the rapidly growing postwar period of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe book is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003every good overall condition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and presents as a strong example of the Twelfth Printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe original navy-blue cloth binding remains clean and attractive, with only light general rubbing and age-related wear. The boards are firm and the binding remains sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe blind-stamped \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering on the front board remains clearly visible. The gilt spine lettering is bright, strong and highly legible, with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e at the head and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eWorks Publishing Company\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e at the foot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThere is light wear at the corners and spine extremities, including a small amount of rubbing and fraying, but the cloth remains well preserved overall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe interior is complete and generally clean, with pages remaining bright for their age and showing only expected toning and minor evidence of use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe front pastedown bears the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLeroy Annis \/ Dover Foxcroft \/ Maine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e ownership label together with the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDOVER GROUP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eR F D 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e stamps. The facing front free endpaper shows scattered age spotting and discoloration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe book remains firmly bound and presents very nicely.\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\"\u003eThe book retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal Twelfth Printing dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e, an important feature of this copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe jacket remains substantially complete, including both flaps, and retains the classic red, yellow, black and white First Edition design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe front panel remains bold and visually striking, with the large \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lettering intact and the original coloration still strong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe jacket shows considerable wear consistent with age and use, including chipping and paper loss along the upper and lower edges, wear at the corners and spine extremities, creasing, rubbing, tears and general surface wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe spine panel shows additional toning, fading and wear, and there are remnants of old tape or adhesive in several areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDespite its wear, the jacket remains highly displayable and importantly preserves the original front and rear panels, spine and both flaps. The rear flap clearly identifies it as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwelfth Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOriginal dust jackets from First Edition Big Books are increasingly difficult to find, particularly with all major components still present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOwnership Markings:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Leroy Annis, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine; “Dover Group” and “R F D 1” stamps\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Twelfth Printing represents a compelling period in the evolution of the First Edition Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBy 1948, Alcoholics Anonymous had moved well beyond the small fellowship responsible for the original 1939 publication, yet the book still retained the classic First Edition format and the Works Publishing identity associated with A.A.’s formative years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis example combines a particularly attractive original navy-blue cloth book with a heavily worn but substantially complete original Twelfth Printing dust jacket. The period Dover Group ownership markings add another interesting element to a copy that clearly saw use during the early growth of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA strong and historically appealing \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, Twelfth Printing Big Book with its scarce original dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50092864241906,"sku":null,"price":1300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/90E8DD23-98C4-4A3A-9D30-96E479167D79.jpg?v=1789518237","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-first-edition-twelfth-printing-october-1948-with-original-dust-jacket-copy","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}