Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Fourth Printing — 1960
Original Dust Jacket | Early Second Edition Big Book
Offered here is a Second Edition, Fourth Printing (1960) 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 Fourth Printing appeared just five years after the introduction of the Second Edition in 1955, during a period of remarkable growth for Alcoholics Anonymous.
When the original Big Book was published in 1939, A.A. consisted of fewer than one hundred members. By 1955, the Fellowship had grown to more than 150,000 members, with thousands of groups established throughout the United States and internationally.
The Second Edition reflected this transformation. While preserving the original program of recovery, the revised book introduced a new Foreword, expanded historical material, and a substantially revised collection of personal recovery stories.
By 1960, Alcoholics Anonymous had become firmly established as an international fellowship, and the Big Book continued to serve as its central text.
This Fourth Printing represents an early stage in the Second Edition’s publication history, offering collectors an example from the first five years of its production.
An Original 1960 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 jacket includes 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 one of the most recognizable features of early Second Edition Big Books.
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: Fourth Printing
Year: 1960
Binding: Original blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original blue Second Edition dust jacket
Condition
Very good hardcover with its original dust jacket.
The original blue cloth hardcover is well preserved, showing minimal handling wear. The binding remains attractive and intact.
There are pencil markings on the first page. No other writing, markings, or underlining are noted in the existing condition description.
The original dust jacket is present and shows general edge wear, including a small tear along the bottom of the rear panel. Compared with many surviving jackets from this period, it presents particularly well.
Please review all photographs carefully for the exact condition.
Collector Significance
The early printings of the Second Edition Big Book document an important period in the worldwide expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous.
This 1960 Fourth Printing, accompanied by its original dust jacket, offers collectors an attractive example from the early years of the Second Edition’s publication history.
The well-preserved hardcover and surviving original jacket make this a desirable addition to a collection of Alcoholics Anonymous Big Books and recovery history.
