{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-pamphlet-january-1944","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — Early January 1944 Promotional Pamphlet","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished by The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc. · New York · Copyright 1943\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAn uncommon early Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlet issued during the Fellowship’s formative years, when A.A. was still introducing its program to alcoholics, physicians, clergy, hospitals, and the general public.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe pamphlet first appeared in 1943 and was reprinted in several closely related versions as supplies were exhausted. This example has been identified as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJanuary 1944 printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and represents one of the earliest pieces of nationally distributed literature published by The Alcoholic Foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eRather than presenting entirely new material, the pamphlet condensed A.A.’s message into a portable introduction to the Fellowship. It combined an explanation of alcoholism and the A.A. program with selected material from the First Edition Big Book, professional endorsements, and outside commentary intended to establish the credibility of the still-young movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContents Include\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Alcoholics Anonymous”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Am I an Alcoholic?”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“The Doctor’s Nightmare”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“The European Drinker”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Women Suffer Too”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Bill’s Story”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Medicine, Religion and Alcoholics Anonymous”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Twelve Steps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Our Friends Say”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA review of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe included personal accounts are drawn from the original First Edition Big Book and preserve several of the best-known voices from A.A.’s earliest years. The pamphlet also reproduces Dr. Fosdick’s important review of the Big Book, in which he praised its realism, restraint, tolerance, and unusual understanding of the alcoholic experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eA particularly interesting feature of this printing is the final page titled \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Magazine Articles.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e It records national and regional coverage of Alcoholics Anonymous from 1939 through 1943, including \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eNewsweek\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Saturday Evening Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eChristian Herald\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Living Church\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, and numerous medical and religious publications. This page provides a remarkable contemporary record of how quickly public awareness of A.A. spread during its first years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePublished while Alcoholics Anonymous was still a relatively small and rapidly expanding fellowship, this pamphlet illustrates how A.A. presented itself before the establishment of the General Service Conference and before much of its later standardized literature had been developed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBibliographic records describe surviving examples as scarce, with relatively few institutional copies recorded. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eA.A.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace of Publication:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e New York\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e January 1944 printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCopyright:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 1943\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Stapled pamphlet\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e “Louisville Fellowship” stamp on the front cover\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eVery good condition for an early wartime-era A.A. pamphlet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe covers show scattered staining and age-related discoloration, with moderate toning throughout and light wear along the edges. The original staple remains present in the fold and shows oxidation consistent with age. A period \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLouisville Fellowship\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e ownership stamp appears on the front cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe pamphlet remains complete and presents well as an authentic, historically used piece of early Alcoholics Anonymous literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the exact condition and appearance of the item offered.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sean McShane","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49869927547122,"sku":null,"price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/products\/AA-Pamphlet-from-January-1944-Recovery-Collectibles-1608165439.jpg?v=1663729993","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-pamphlet-january-1944","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}