{"product_id":"bill-w-by-robert-thomsen-fourth-printing-1976-odj","title":"Bill W. by Robert Thomsen — 1975 Fourth Printing | Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePublished in 1975, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e by Robert Thomsen is the landmark biography of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilliam Griffith Wilson (Bill W.), co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThomsen knew Bill personally and was given access to an extraordinary body of source material in preparing the biography. The resulting book traces Bill’s life from his Vermont childhood and military service through his alcoholism, spiritual experience, meeting with Dr. Bob Smith, the founding and growth of Alcoholics Anonymous, and his later years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePublished only four years after Bill W.’s death in 1971, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e remains one of the most important biographical works relating to the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and its co-founder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1975 Fourth Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy was published by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Row in 1975\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. The copyright page contains the number line:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e76 77 78 79 10 9 8 7 6 5 4\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eidentifying this copy as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003efourth printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIt retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal illustrated dust jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, featuring the familiar portrait of Bill W. and the original $10.95 price on the front flap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContemporary A.A. Grapevine Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOf particular interest, affixed to the front pastedown of this copy is a contemporary review of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e from the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAugust 1975 issue of the A.A. Grapevine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe review describes Thomsen’s biography as both a portrait of Bill and an important account of the origins and development of Alcoholics Anonymous. Its presence in the book provides an interesting contemporary A.A. response to the biography shortly after its publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe review itself is headed \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Around AA — Items of AA information and experience”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and bears the notation:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCopyright August 1975 A.A. Grapevine, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInstitutional Provenance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy also bears ownership stamps from the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcohol \u0026amp; Drug Abuse Division\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e81 River Street\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eMontpelier, Vermont 05602\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe stamp appears on the title page and rear endpaper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn older sales receipt remains affixed to the rear pastedown and is stamped \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Received May 22 2004.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThese markings indicate that the book was formerly held by Vermont’s Alcohol \u0026amp; Drug Abuse Division before eventually entering private circulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThere is an interesting geographic connection here as well: Bill Wilson was born in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEast Dorset, Vermont\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, and spent important portions of his childhood in the state. While the institutional ownership does not establish any direct association with Bill W. himself, it gives this particular copy a fitting Vermont provenance.\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\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Robert Thomsen\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Harper \u0026amp; Row, Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Year:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 1975\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Fourth Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Blue cloth hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Original dust jacket\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginal Jacket Price:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e $10.95\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 0-06-014267-7\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLibrary of Congress:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 74-1861\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJacket Design:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Luba Litwak\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Design:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e C. Linda Dingler\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook:\u003c\/b\u003e Good to Very Good condition. The original blue cloth binding remains attractive, with some light shelf wear and rubbing, particularly along the extremities. The spine lettering remains bright and legible. The binding appears sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is a former institutional copy and bears \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcohol \u0026amp; Drug Abuse Division, Montpelier, Vermont\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e ownership stamps on the title page and rear endpaper. A contemporary August 1975 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eA.A. Grapevine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e review of the book has been affixed to the front pastedown. An older sales receipt, bearing a May 22, 2004 received stamp, is affixed to the rear pastedown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e Good condition. The original dust jacket is complete but shows considerable age and use, including overall toning, rubbing and surface wear, creasing, edge wear, and several small chips and tears, particularly along the upper edge, corners, and spine ends. There is a more noticeable tear\/separation near the lower rear spine fold. Despite the wear, the jacket remains intact and presents well, retaining the original artwork, flap text, and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e$10.95 publisher’s price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the exact condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhile later printings of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e are obtainable, copies retaining their \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eoriginal 1975 dust jackets\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e are considerably more desirable than jacketless examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis particular copy has an additional historical character because of its former Vermont Alcohol \u0026amp; Drug Abuse Division ownership and, especially, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003econtemporary August 1975 A.A. Grapevine review preserved inside the book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. Rather than representing a pristine collector’s copy, this is an interesting working copy with documented institutional use and material directly relating to the book’s reception within Alcoholics Anonymous during its original year of publication.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50029360218354,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/EBA49DE3-B258-4E60-83A3-D1B556FA91ED.jpg?v=1788657559","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/bill-w-by-robert-thomsen-fourth-printing-1976-odj","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}