Alcoholics Anonymous — Second Edition, Ninth Printing (1967)
Original Dust Jacket | November 1967 | Early A.A. Group Association
Offered here is a Second Edition, Ninth Printing (1967) 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, dated November 1967.
First introduced in 1955, the Second Edition reflected the tremendous growth of Alcoholics Anonymous since the original Big Book was published in 1939. While preserving the basic text of A.A.’s program of recovery, the revised edition included expanded historical material, updated introductory sections, and a substantially revised collection of personal recovery stories.
By 1967, A.A. had grown to more than 350,000 members in over 12,000 groups across more than 90 countries, according to the updated Fellowship statistics appearing in this printing.
Original 1967 Dust Jacket
An important feature of this copy is its surviving original Second Edition dust jacket.
The rear flap retains the printer’s code 60M–11/67(C), identifying a November 1967 jacket printing consistent with the Ninth Printing of the Second Edition.
The jacket also preserves the distinctive anonymity feature associated with early Second Edition Big Books. Its interior was designed so that owners could turn the jacket inside out when carrying the book, concealing the title and preserving personal anonymity.
Ashaway Group — Rhode Island
The front free endpaper bears a stamped identification for the Ashaway Group, an Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ashaway, Rhode Island.
The stamp identifies the group’s meeting location as Route 216 in Ashaway and lists Thursday evening meetings at 8:30 PM.
This marking provides an interesting connection to the book’s history of use within the Fellowship, offering a glimpse into the local A.A. groups through which the Big Book circulated.
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 World Services, Inc., New York
Edition: Second Edition — New and Revised
Printing: Ninth Printing
Year: 1967
Binding: Blue cloth hardcover with embossed front cover lettering and gold spine lettering
Dust Jacket: Original Dust Jacket (ODJ)
Dust Jacket Code: 60M–11/67(C)
Additional Feature: Ashaway Group stamp, Rhode Island
Condition
Book: Very Good condition overall, with an attractive original blue cloth binding.
The boards retain a bright blue appearance with minor rubbing, light surface wear, and limited wear at the corners and spine extremities. The embossed front cover lettering remains visible, and the gold spine lettering is bright and legible.
The binding appears sound, and the interior pages shown are clean and well preserved, with light age-related toning and occasional minor spotting.
The front free endpaper contains the Ashaway Group identification stamp. The existing condition record also notes a handwritten notation on an early page that has been scratched out. No additional interior writing or markings were previously reported.
Dust Jacket: Original blue dust jacket in Good condition, showing age-related rubbing, surface scuffing, scattered small tears, and wear along the edges and spine extremities.
A small area of surface paper loss is visible on the front cover beneath and to the left of the circle-and-triangle emblem. The jacket also exhibits light discoloration and scattered spotting, particularly along the flaps.
Despite this wear, the jacket remains attractive and retains its original design, flap text, and November 1967 printing code.
Please examine all photographs carefully for additional condition details.
Collector’s Notes
This 1967 Ninth Printing is an appealing example of a Second Edition Big Book preserved with its original dust jacket.
The surviving November 1967 jacket and the Ashaway Group identification stamp add interest to this copy, combining an identifiable printing with a documented connection to a local Alcoholics Anonymous group.
A worthwhile addition to a collection of early Big Books or Alcoholics Anonymous historical literature.
