Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, First Printing — Ernie Galbraith’s Personal Copy with Sue Smith Windows Provenance
An extraordinary association copy of the First Edition, First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, published by Works Publishing Company in New York in 1939.
This copy is identified as the personal Big Book of Ernie Galbraith, generally recognized as the fourth successfully sober member of the early Akron fellowship. Galbraith’s recovery story, “The Seven Month Slip,” appears on pages 282–286 of this very volume.
The book is accompanied by a handwritten letter dated October 17, 1994, from Sue Smith Windows, daughter of Dr. Bob and Anne Smith and Ernie Galbraith’s former wife. In the letter, Sue directly identifies the volume as Ernie’s Big Book and explains its unusual history of being loaned, remaining away from the family for many years, and eventually being recovered.
The combination of a 1939 First Printing, direct family provenance, Sue Galbraith’s ownership inscription, and Ernie’s own story within the book makes this an exceptional artifact from the founding period of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Ernie Galbraith and Early Akron A.A.
Ernie Galbraith entered the Akron fellowship during the summer of 1935, when the movement that would become Alcoholics Anonymous was still taking shape around Bill W., Dr. Bob Smith, Bill Dotson, and a small group of men and women in Akron.
Galbraith became one of the earliest alcoholics reached through the developing practice of one alcoholic helping another. His experience was later included among the original personal stories in the First Edition Big Book under the title “The Seven Month Slip.”
His story recounts his alcoholism, his introduction to the early Akron fellowship, his initial period of sobriety, and the relapse that gave the account its title. It appeared in the First Edition story section and was removed when the personal narratives were substantially revised for the Second Edition.
Ernie later married Dr. Bob’s daughter, Sue Smith, in 1941.
Handwritten Provenance from Sue Smith Windows
Included with the book is a handwritten letter dated October 17, 1994, written and signed by Sue Smith Windows on her personal Akron, Ohio stationery.
The letter reads:
Dear Bob,
This is to put with your big book that was Ernie’s.
It was loaned to a man in Canada that stayed with Ernie’s Mother + father around 1939-40-41—
He did not return the book until many years later when we insisted. I believe he loaned or gave it to the person named in the book. It did come back to us from the person we loaned it to.
Also enclosed is a note with Ernie’s signature — both initials and full first name. I hope this authenticates it.
Sincerely,
Sue Smith Windows
Sue’s statement directly identifies the book as “your big book that was Ernie’s.”
She also explains why another person’s name appears inside the volume. According to Sue, the book had been loaned to a man in Canada who stayed with Ernie’s parents around 1939–1941. It remained away from the family for many years before being returned after they insisted upon its recovery.
The provenance letter is an essential part of the artifact and should remain permanently associated with the book.
Sue Galbraith Ownership Inscription
The front pastedown bears Sue’s handwritten ownership inscription:
Sue Galbraith
26 W. York St. — Akron, Ohio
This was Sue’s address at the time and provides additional physical evidence connecting the volume to Ernie Galbraith and the family of Dr. Bob Smith.
The facing endpaper contains further period handwriting, including a notation dated April 26, 1945, and a large handwritten signature. These markings form part of the book’s ownership history and are consistent with Sue’s explanation that the volume was loaned and temporarily passed through other hands.
A Big Book Containing Its Owner’s Own Story
The significance of this copy extends beyond ownership alone.
Ernie Galbraith’s story begins on page 282 of the book he personally owned. A reader can turn directly to “The Seven Month Slip” and read the account of the man whose volume this was.
That relationship places the book in a rare category of association copy: a foundational publication owned by one of the original contributors whose experience helped form its historical record.
The First Edition, First Printing
The First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous was published in April 1939 by Works Publishing Company.
Its title page reads:
Alcoholics Anonymous
The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Works Publishing Company
New York City
1939
Approximately 4,650 copies were produced, all bound in red cloth with gold lettering.
The book was intentionally printed in an unusually large format using thick paper and broad margins. Its substantial appearance helped give rise to the lasting nickname “the Big Book.”
Important identifying features of the First Printing include:
- Original red cloth binding with gold lettering
- Works Publishing Company title page dated 1939
- The Doctor’s Opinion beginning on page 1
- The duplicated line of text on page 234
- The original First Edition personal-story section
- “Lone Endeavor,” appearing only in the First Printing
- The early appendix describing the Alcoholic Foundation
The original stories include accounts associated with Dr. Bob Smith, Hank Parkhurst, Clarence Snyder, Ernie Galbraith, Ray Campbell, and many other members of the earliest Akron and New York fellowships.
Item Details
Title: Alcoholics Anonymous
Subtitle: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Publisher: Works Publishing Company, New York City
Edition: First Edition
Printing: First Printing
Year: 1939
Binding: Original red cloth with gold lettering
Association: Personal copy of Ernie Galbraith
Provenance: Handwritten 1994 letter from Sue Smith Windows
Ownership inscription: “Sue Galbraith,” with Akron address
Featured story: “The Seven Month Slip,” pages 282–286
Dust jacket: Reproduction First Printing dust jacket included
Condition
The book is in very attractive condition for a First Edition, First Printing published in 1939.
The original red cloth remains bright and presents beautifully. The gold lettering on the front cover and spine is strong and vivid. The binding shows only light exterior wear, including minor rubbing, small marks, and modest wear at the spine ends and corners.
The interior pages show expected age toning but remain clean and well preserved overall. The binding is sound, and the printed text remains clear throughout.
Sue Galbraith’s ownership inscription appears on the front pastedown. Additional period handwriting and signatures appear on the facing endpaper, as described above. These markings are part of the book’s documented association history.
The original 1939 dust jacket is not present. A reproduction of the First Printing “circus” jacket is included for display and protection.
The accompanying handwritten provenance letter from Sue Smith Windows remains clean, legible, and well preserved.
Please review all photographs carefully for a complete understanding of the book’s condition, inscriptions, and included documentation.
Historical and Collector Significance
First Printings of Alcoholics Anonymous are foundational artifacts of recovery history. Copies directly associated with the men and women whose experiences were published within them occupy an even rarer category.
This volume belonged to one of the earliest members of the Akron fellowship. His own recovery story appears within its pages. Sue Galbraith’s ownership inscription remains inside the book, and Sue Smith Windows later documented its history in a handwritten letter.
This is a rare and historically important association copy of the 1939 First Printing: Ernie Galbraith’s personal Big Book, containing his own recovery story and accompanied by direct handwritten provenance from Sue Smith Windows.
Few surviving copies connect the physical book, one of its original contributors, and Dr. Bob’s family so directly.
