Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Sixth Printing (1963) — Reproduction Dust Jacket
Second Edition — Sixth Printing, 1963
With Reproduction Dust Jacket
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Overview
Offered here is a 1963 Sixth Printing of the Second Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly known as the Big Book.
The copyright page identifies the progression of the Second Edition through the Fourth Printing (1960), Fifth Printing (1962), and Sixth Printing (1963). This copy is accompanied by a reproduction dust jacket representing the jacket issued with the Sixth Printing.
The Second Edition occupies an important place in A.A. publishing history. Introduced in 1955, it retained the basic recovery text of the First Edition while substantially revising and expanding the book to reflect the remarkable growth of Alcoholics Anonymous during its first two decades.
The Second Edition
When the original Alcoholics Anonymous was published in 1939, the Fellowship numbered fewer than 100 members. By the era of the Second Edition, A.A. had grown into an international fellowship numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
While the basic text on pages 1–165 remained substantially unchanged, the Second Edition introduced important revisions elsewhere in the book. The front matter was expanded, additional material relating to religion and medicine was included, and the appendices were enlarged.
The greatest change came in the personal stories. The Second Edition presented 37 case histories, including approximately 110,000 words of new material, intended to represent the increasingly broad membership of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Among the newly organized sections was “They Stopped in Time,” featuring stories intended particularly for readers questioning whether their drinking had progressed far enough for them to identify as alcoholic.
The work was authorized by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous as another milestone in the development and growth of the Fellowship.
Anonymity and the Second Edition Dust Jacket
One of the most interesting features of Second Edition dust jackets was a practical accommodation for personal anonymity. Owners were advised that the jacket could be turned inside out while carrying the book, allowing the plain reverse side to conceal the title.
The Sixth Printing jacket is identified by the notation: 50M–6/63(C)
This jacket code corresponds specifically to the 1963 Sixth Printing. The dust jacket accompanying this copy is a reproduction, not an original 1963 jacket.
Condition
This copy shows age and use consistent with a vintage 1963 Big Book. The original blue cloth boards exhibit noticeable fading, discoloration, rubbing, and general wear, particularly along the spine and extremities. The spine cloth has faded considerably compared with the boards, while the gilt/orange spine lettering remains visible. Additional scattered marks and areas of discoloration are present on the covers.
The interior remains generally clean and readable, with expected age toning to the paper. The endpapers show scattered discoloration and handling marks. The binding remains intact.
The dust jacket is a reproduction and presents very cleanly, providing the appearance and design of the Sixth Printing jacket while preserving the original book beneath it.
Please review all photographs carefully for the best representation of the condition of this copy.
Publication Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Edition: Second Edition, New and Revised
Printing: Sixth Printing
Year: 1963
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Printer: The Cornwall Press, Inc., Cornwall, New York
Dust Jacket: Reproduction
Original Sixth Printing Jacket Code: 50M–6/63(C)
