Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Sixth Printing — 1963
Original Dust Jacket | Early Second Edition Big Book
Offered here is a Second Edition, Sixth Printing (1963) 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 Sixth Printing appeared just eight years after the introduction of the Second Edition in 1955, during a period of significant growth and international expansion 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 around the world.
The Second Edition reflected this remarkable transformation. While preserving the original program of recovery, the revised book introduced an expanded Foreword, additional historical material, and a substantially revised collection of personal recovery stories representing the experiences of a much larger Fellowship.
Published in 1963, this Sixth Printing represents an early stage in the Second Edition’s publication history, when Alcoholics Anonymous was becoming firmly established as an international fellowship.
An Original 1963 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 rear jacket flap bears the printing code 50M–6/63(C), corresponding to the June 1963 production of the Sixth Printing.
The jacket also 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 an interesting feature 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: Sixth Printing
Year: 1963
Binding: Original blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original blue Second Edition dust jacket
Dust Jacket Code: 50M–6/63(C)
Condition
Very good hardcover with a worn original dust jacket.
The original blue cloth hardcover is in very good condition overall, showing some fading and bumped corners. The binding remains intact.
There is a handwritten name on the inside front cover. No additional writing or markings are noted in the existing description.
The original dust jacket shows substantial age-related wear, including tears and a portion missing from the jacket’s spine. There is also a price sticker affixed to the front of the jacket.
Despite these condition issues, the original jacket remains an important feature of this early printing.
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 growth of Alcoholics Anonymous.
This 1963 Sixth Printing, accompanied by its original dust jacket, offers collectors an example from the first decade of the Second Edition’s publication.
Although the jacket has notable wear, its survival alongside the original hardcover makes this a worthwhile addition to a collection of Alcoholics Anonymous Big Books and recovery history.
