Alcoholics Anonymous Second Edition — First Printing (1955) | Reproduction Dust Jacket
Offered here is a Second Edition, First Printing (1955) of Alcoholics Anonymous, the foundational text of the Fellowship commonly known as the Big Book. Published by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., this historic printing represents a major milestone in A.A. history, marking the first revised edition of the Big Book since its original publication in 1939.
This copy is accompanied by a reproduction of the original Second Edition dust jacket and has documented institutional provenance from the School of Theology Library at Anderson College & Theological Seminary in Anderson, Indiana.
The Second Edition was introduced in July 1955, coinciding with Alcoholics Anonymous’ Twentieth Anniversary International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Its publication reflected the Fellowship’s remarkable growth from fewer than one hundred members in 1939 to more than 150,000 members worldwide.
The Historic 1955 Second Edition
When the original Alcoholics Anonymous was published in April 1939, the Fellowship was still in its infancy. Over the following sixteen years, the Big Book underwent sixteen printings and helped carry A.A.’s message to communities across the United States and beyond.
By 1955, Alcoholics Anonymous had grown into an international Fellowship, with nearly 6,000 groups and more than 150,000 members.
The Second Edition was developed to reflect that expansion while preserving the original message of recovery.
The revised edition introduced an updated Foreword, expanded historical information, and a substantially revised collection of personal stories representing the Fellowship’s increasingly diverse membership.
Importantly, the basic text outlining A.A.’s program of recovery remained substantially unchanged from the 1939 First Edition.
The publication of the Second Edition also coincided with another historic moment in A.A.‘s development: the formal transfer of leadership and responsibility from the Fellowship’s founders and early members to its General Service Conference during the 1955 International Convention.
For collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous literature, the 1955 First Printing represents an important transition in the Fellowship’s history and remains one of the most significant printings of the Big Book.
Institutional Provenance — Anderson College School of Theology
An interesting characteristic of this copy is its documented history as part of the School of Theology Library at Anderson College & Theological Seminary in Anderson, Indiana.
The book retains several identifying features of its former institutional ownership, including:
- A decorative Graduate School of Theology bookplate on the front pastedown, identifying the Gospel Trumpet Company.
- School of Theology Library ownership stamps.
- An institutional library barcode and classification markings.
- A partially removed library identification label on the spine.
- A handwritten presentation inscription on the front free endpaper.
These markings document the book’s history within a theological academic collection.
The presence of an early Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book in a theological library is particularly interesting given the Fellowship’s historical connections to spiritual principles, religious thought, and the study of alcoholism and recovery.
Although its former library markings affect the book’s collectible condition, they also preserve evidence of its institutional history.
Book Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous — The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Author: Alcoholics Anonymous
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., New York
Edition: Second Edition — New and Revised
Printing: First Printing
Year: 1955
Binding: Blue cloth hardcover with embossed front cover lettering and gold spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Reproduction Dust Jacket (RDJ) — Not Original
Provenance: Former School of Theology Library copy, Anderson College & Theological Seminary, Anderson, Indiana
Condition
Book: Good condition overall, showing visible age-related wear and markings associated with its former institutional library use.
The original blue cloth boards exhibit fading, discoloration, rubbing, and scattered staining. The cloth shows noticeable wear at the corners and spine extremities, including some fraying and exposure of the lighter underlying material.
The embossed front cover lettering remains visible, although faded in areas. The gold spine lettering is still legible. A partially removed library classification label remains attached to the lower spine.
The front pastedown contains a decorative Graduate School of Theology bookplate identifying the Gospel Trumpet Company, along with visible adhesive residue and staining.
The front free endpaper contains a handwritten presentation inscription, an Anderson University library barcode, institutional markings, and scattered spotting.
Additional library stamps appear on the copyright page and near the rear of the book. Handwritten classification numbers and other library-related markings are also present.
The interior pages shown exhibit general age toning, occasional spotting, and minor handling wear. The binding appears intact, and the pages photographed remain generally well preserved.
Dust Jacket: The book is accompanied by a reproduction of the original 1955 Second Edition dust jacket. The reproduction presents attractively, displaying the familiar blue design associated with the earliest Second Edition Big Books.
This is a reproduction dust jacket and not an original 1955 jacket.
Please carefully examine the accompanying photographs for additional details regarding the book’s condition and institutional markings.
Collector’s Notes
The 1955 Second Edition, First Printing remains an important publication in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous, marking the beginning of a new era in the Fellowship’s development and the first substantial revision of its foundational book.
This particular copy is distinguished by its documented institutional provenance from the School of Theology Library at Anderson College & Theological Seminary.
While its library markings and exterior wear distinguish it from higher-grade collector copies, it remains a genuine 1955 First Printing of the Second Edition, accompanied by a reproduction dust jacket.
For collectors, researchers, and students of recovery history, this copy offers an opportunity to acquire an important early Big Book with a documented history of institutional ownership.
