{"product_id":"ernie-galbraith-1939-first-printing-big-book","title":"Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, First Printing — Ernie Galbraith’s Personal Copy with Sue Smith Windows Provenance","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn extraordinary association copy of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published by Works Publishing Company in New York in 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy is identified as the personal Big Book of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eErnie Galbraith\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, generally recognized as the fourth successfully sober member of the early Akron fellowship. Galbraith’s recovery story, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Seven Month Slip,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e appears on pages 282–286 of this very volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book is accompanied by a handwritten letter dated October 17, 1994, from \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSue Smith Windows\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eErnie Galbraith and Early Akron A.A.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eErnie 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eGalbraith 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 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“The Seven Month Slip.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eHis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eErnie later married Dr. Bob’s daughter, Sue Smith, in 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHandwritten Provenance from Sue Smith Windows\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIncluded with the book is a handwritten letter dated \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOctober 17, 1994\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, written and signed by Sue Smith Windows on her personal Akron, Ohio stationery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe letter reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eDear Bob,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis is to put with your big book that was Ernie’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIt was loaned to a man in Canada that stayed with Ernie’s Mother + father around \u003ca href=\"tel:1939-40-41\"\u003e1939-40-41\u003c\/a\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eHe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAlso enclosed is a note with Ernie’s signature — both initials and full first name. I hope this authenticates it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eSincerely,\u003cbr\u003eSue Smith Windows\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSue’s statement directly identifies the book as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“your big book that was Ernie’s.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eShe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe provenance letter is an essential part of the artifact and should remain permanently associated with the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSue Galbraith Ownership Inscription\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe front pastedown bears Sue’s handwritten ownership inscription:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSue Galbraith\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e26 W. York St. — Akron, Ohio\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe facing endpaper contains further period handwriting, including a notation dated \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eApril 26, 1945\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Big Book Containing Its Owner’s Own Story\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe significance of this copy extends beyond ownership alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eErnie Galbraith’s story begins on page 282 of the book he personally owned. A reader can turn directly to \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Seven Month Slip”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and read the account of the man whose volume this was.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThat 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe First Edition, First Printing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe First Printing of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e was published in April 1939 by Works Publishing Company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIts title page reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWorks Publishing Company\u003cbr\u003eNew York City\u003cbr\u003e1939\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eApproximately 4,650 copies were produced, all bound in red cloth with gold lettering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe 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 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“the Big Book.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p6\"\u003eImportant identifying features of the First Printing include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal red cloth binding with gold lettering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorks Publishing Company title page dated 1939\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Doctor’s Opinion beginning on page 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe duplicated line of text on page 234\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe original First Edition personal-story section\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Lone Endeavor,” appearing only in the First Printing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe early appendix describing the Alcoholic Foundation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eItem Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubtitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Works Publishing Company, New York City\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e First Edition\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e First Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1939\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original red cloth with gold lettering\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAssociation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Personal copy of Ernie Galbraith\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Handwritten 1994 letter from Sue Smith Windows\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOwnership inscription:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e “Sue Galbraith,” with Akron address\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeatured story:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e “The Seven Month Slip,” pages 282–286\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Reproduction First Printing dust jacket included\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\"\u003eThe book is in very attractive condition for a First Edition, First Printing published in 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe interior pages show expected age toning but remain clean and well preserved overall. The binding is sound, and the printed text remains clear throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSue 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original 1939 dust jacket is not present. A reproduction of the First Printing “circus” jacket is included for display and protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe accompanying handwritten provenance letter from Sue Smith Windows remains clean, legible, and well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for a complete understanding of the book’s condition, inscriptions, and included documentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical and Collector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFirst Printings of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFew surviving copies connect the physical book, one of its original contributors, and Dr. Bob’s family so directly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sean McShane","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49869899694322,"sku":null,"price":49500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/80FA78FA-BD86-4EE5-B5B5-E898A5CE8E1E.jpg?v=1735250820","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/ernie-galbraith-1939-first-printing-big-book","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}