Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Thirteenth Printing — 1972
Original Dust Jacket | Collectible Second Edition Big Book
Offered here is a Second Edition, Thirteenth Printing (1972) 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 Thirteenth Printing appeared during a period of continued growth for Alcoholics Anonymous, as the Fellowship expanded its membership and international presence.
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, with thousands of groups established throughout the United States and around the world.
The Second Edition reflected this remarkable transformation. While preserving the original program of recovery contained in the opening chapters, the revised book introduced a new Foreword, expanded historical material, and a substantially revised collection of personal recovery stories.
By 1972, Alcoholics Anonymous had been carrying its message for more than three decades. The Big Book remained central to the Fellowship, offering both practical guidance for recovery and personal accounts demonstrating how the program had worked in the lives of its members.
This Thirteenth Printing represents the later years of the Second Edition’s publication history, just four years before the introduction of the Third Edition in 1976.
An Original 1972 Dust Jacket
An important feature of this copy is its original blue Second Edition dust jacket, retaining the familiar cream-colored lettering and circle-and-triangle emblem associated with the Big Book.
The original jacket also incorporates a distinctive 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 thoughtful design reflects the importance of personal anonymity within A.A.’s traditions and remains an interesting feature of original Second Edition 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: Thirteenth Printing
Year: 1972
Binding: Original blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original blue Second Edition dust jacket
Signed: No
Condition
Very good hardcover with its original dust jacket.
The original blue cloth hardcover shows light handling wear consistent with age. The gilt spine lettering remains attractive, and the binding is intact.
The interior pages are generally clean and well preserved, with light age-related toning.
The original dust jacket shows rubbing, scuffing, and edge wear, including creasing and small tears around the corners and spine ends. Despite this wear, the jacket retains its original design and remains an attractive example.
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 worldwide expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous.
This 1972 Thirteenth Printing, accompanied by its original dust jacket, offers collectors an appealing example from the later years of the Second Edition.
The surviving original jacket and well-preserved hardcover make this a worthwhile addition to a collection of Alcoholics Anonymous Big Books and recovery history.
