{"product_id":"alcoholics-anonymous-second-edition-first-printing-1955-rdj-library-copy","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous Second Edition — First Printing (1955) | Reproduction Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond Edition, First Printing (1955) of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis 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 \u0026amp; Theological Seminary in Anderson, Indiana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Historic 1955 Second Edition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWhen the original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBy 1955, Alcoholics Anonymous had grown into an international Fellowship, with nearly 6,000 groups and more than 150,000 members.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Second Edition was developed to reflect that expansion while preserving the original message of recovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe revised edition introduced an updated Foreword, expanded historical information, and a substantially revised collection of personal stories representing the Fellowship’s increasingly diverse membership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eImportantly, the basic text outlining A.A.’s program of recovery remained substantially unchanged from the 1939 First Edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous literature, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1955 First Printing\u003c\/span\u003e represents an important transition in the Fellowship’s history and remains one of the most significant printings of the Big Book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInstitutional Provenance — Anderson College School of Theology\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAn interesting characteristic of this copy is its documented history as part of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSchool of Theology Library at Anderson College \u0026amp; Theological Seminary in Anderson, Indiana\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe book retains several identifying features of its former institutional ownership, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA decorative Graduate School of Theology bookplate on the front pastedown, identifying the Gospel Trumpet Company.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSchool of Theology Library ownership stamps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn institutional library barcode and classification markings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA partially removed library identification label on the spine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA handwritten presentation inscription on the front free endpaper.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThese markings document the book’s history within a theological academic collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAlthough its former library markings affect the book’s collectible condition, they also preserve evidence of its institutional history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous — The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., New York\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e Second Edition — New and Revised\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e First Printing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 1955\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Blue cloth hardcover with embossed front cover lettering and gold spine lettering\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e Reproduction Dust Jacket (RDJ) — Not Original\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Former School of Theology Library copy, Anderson College \u0026amp; Theological Seminary, Anderson, Indiana\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook:\u003c\/b\u003e Good condition overall, showing visible age-related wear and markings associated with its former institutional library use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe front pastedown contains a decorative Graduate School of Theology bookplate identifying the Gospel Trumpet Company, along with visible adhesive residue and staining.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe front free endpaper contains a handwritten presentation inscription, an Anderson University library barcode, institutional markings, and scattered spotting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAdditional 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is a reproduction dust jacket and not an original 1955 jacket.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease carefully examine the accompanying photographs for additional details regarding the book’s condition and institutional markings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Notes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis particular copy is distinguished by its documented institutional provenance from the School of Theology Library at Anderson College \u0026amp; Theological Seminary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWhile 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67735513170162,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/F8DCBC70-C63C-4397-BB49-15E9DEC61861.jpg?v=1792012175","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/alcoholics-anonymous-second-edition-first-printing-1955-rdj-library-copy","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}