Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Fifteenth Printing (1973) — Original Dust Jacket

Offered here is a Second Edition, Fifteenth Printing (1973) of Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly known as the Big Book, published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., and accompanied by its original dust jacket.

The Second Edition, first introduced in 1955, marked an important transition in Alcoholics Anonymous history. By that time, A.A. had grown from a small fellowship of fewer than one hundred members in 1939 into an international movement with more than 150,000 members.

While preserving the original program of recovery, the Second Edition introduced expanded historical material, additional personal stories, and revisions reflecting the Fellowship’s extraordinary growth.

This Fifteenth Printing, published in 1973, represents the later years of the Second Edition, shortly before the final printing in 1974 and the introduction of the Third Edition in 1976.

Historical Significance

The Second Edition retained the original basic text of the Big Book while expanding other portions to reflect A.A.’s growing membership.

Among its important features were:

• Preserved Basic Text: The original recovery program remained substantially unchanged.
• Expanded Historical Material: Revised introductory sections documented A.A.’s development and worldwide growth.
• Updated Personal Stories: New accounts reflected the experiences of a larger and more diverse Fellowship.
• “They Stopped in Time”: A section addressing those who questioned whether they were alcoholics.
• Additional Appendices: Material explaining the Twelve Traditions and the broader A.A. Fellowship.

By 1973, Alcoholics Anonymous had expanded into thousands of groups worldwide. This printing reflects a period when the Big Book was firmly established as one of the most influential publications in recovery history.

Original Dust Jacket

This copy retains its original dark blue Second Edition dust jacket, featuring the distinctive cream-colored lettering and circle-and-triangle emblem.

The jacket includes the original anonymity instructions printed on the rear flap:

“If you wish to preserve complete personal anonymity when carrying this book, just turn this jacket inside out.”

The rear flap also carries the printing code 100M–2/73 (C), consistent with the 1973 publication period.

Book Details

Title: Alcoholics Anonymous
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Edition: Second Edition — New and Revised
Printing: Fifteenth Printing
Year: 1973
Binding: Blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original, with code 100M–2/73 (C)

Condition

Book: Very Good condition overall. The original blue cloth boards retain strong color, with light rubbing, minor surface marks, and some wear to the corners and spine ends. The gilt spine lettering remains bright and attractive.

The binding appears solid, and the photographed interior pages are clean and well preserved, with light age-related toning.

There is faint handwritten notation near the upper-right corner of the front free endpaper. Some offsetting or discoloration is visible on the front pastedown.

Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket in Good condition. The dark blue coloring remains strong, and the front cover lettering is clear and attractive.

The jacket shows general rubbing and handling wear, with small tears, creasing, and chipping along the upper and lower edges. There is more noticeable wear at the spine ends and corners, including a tear near the upper-left corner of the front panel. Both original flaps are present.

Please review all photographs carefully for exact condition and appearance.

Collector Significance

The Second Edition Big Book documents an important period in the development of Alcoholics Anonymous, when the Fellowship expanded from its early American beginnings into a worldwide recovery movement.

This 1973 Fifteenth Printing with its original dust jacket is an attractive surviving example from the later Second Edition years.

A desirable addition to a collection of Alcoholics Anonymous Big Books, particularly for collectors assembling the complete sixteen-printing sequence of the Second Edition.