Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Eleventh Printing — September 1970
Original Dust Jacket | Early A.A. Big Book
Offered here is a Second Edition, Eleventh Printing (September 1970) of Alcoholics Anonymous, the foundational text of the Fellowship commonly known as the Big Book. Published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., this copy retains its original blue dust jacket.
The Eleventh Printing appeared during an important period in Alcoholics Anonymous history, as the Fellowship continued its remarkable expansion throughout the United States and around the world.
When the original Big Book was published in 1939, A.A. consisted of fewer than one hundred members. By the introduction of the Second Edition in 1955, membership had grown to more than 150,000. By 1970, the Fellowship had expanded to approximately 475,000 members worldwide.
The Second Edition reflected this transformation. While preserving the original program of recovery, it introduced a new Foreword, expanded historical material, and a substantially revised collection of personal recovery stories representing the experiences of a much larger and more diverse Fellowship.
Published in September 1970, this Eleventh Printing represents a period when Alcoholics Anonymous had become firmly established as an international fellowship.
An Original 1970 Dust Jacket
An important feature of this copy is its original blue Second Edition dust jacket, retaining the familiar lettering and circle-and-triangle emblem associated with the Big Book.
The rear jacket flap bears the printing code 65M–9/70(C), corresponding to the September 1970 printing.
The original jacket also includes an interesting feature intended to protect the anonymity of its owner. Readers were encouraged to turn the jacket inside out when carrying the book publicly, concealing its identifying cover.
This distinctive feature reflects the importance of personal anonymity within A.A.’s traditions and remains an interesting element of early Big Book dust jackets.
Book Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., New York
Edition: Second Edition, New and Revised
Printing: Eleventh Printing
Publication Date: September 1970
Binding: Original blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original blue Second Edition dust jacket
Dust Jacket Code: 65M–9/70(C)
Signed: No
Condition
Very good hardcover with a fair original dust jacket.
The original blue cloth boards are well preserved, showing minimal overall wear. The binding remains tight and square.
The interior pages are clean and well preserved. There is a stamp on the first page, but the remaining interior is reported to be free of writing or markings.
The original dust jacket shows more substantial age-related wear, including rubbing, edge wear, and tears. Most notably, the front jacket flap is torn, with a portion missing. Despite this damage, the jacket retains its original design and printing identification.
Please review all photographs carefully for the exact condition.
Collector Significance
The Second Edition Big Book remained in publication from 1955 until the introduction of the Third Edition in 1976, documenting an important period in the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous.
This September 1970 Eleventh Printing, accompanied by its original dust jacket, offers collectors an attractive example from the later years of the Second Edition.
The well-preserved hardcover and surviving original jacket make this a worthwhile addition to a collection of Alcoholics Anonymous Big Books and recovery history.
