{"product_id":"the-book-that-started-it-all-original-working-manuscript-of-alcoholics-anonymous-limited-edition-of-1-000-sealed","title":"The Book That Started It All — Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous — Limited Edition of 1,000 — Sealed","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOffered here is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003enumbered limited edition of \u003cb\u003eThe Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, issued in an elegant leather-bound format and limited to just \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1,000 numbered copies\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMost importantly, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ethis copy remains unopened in its original plastic wrap and retains its original white cardstock protective sleeve\u003c\/span\u003e. Because the book has never been unsealed, its individual limitation number is unknown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis special edition reproduces one of the most important documents in the publishing history of Alcoholics Anonymous: the surviving working manuscript used during the development of the book \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, later universally known as the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBig Book\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Working Manuscript of the Big Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDuring the preparation of the original Big Book in the late 1930s, Bill Wilson and the early members of Alcoholics Anonymous sought input from physicians, clergy, alcoholics, non-alcoholics, and others who might offer useful criticism of the developing text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eApproximately 400 mimeographed copies of the developing manuscript were circulated for review. Suggestions and revisions were gathered and considered, with changes ultimately incorporated into the working copy from which the book continued toward publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Book That Started It All\u003c\/i\u003e reproduces that historic manuscript, preserving the handwritten editorial markings, proposed changes, deletions, additions, and comments that document the evolution of the text before the first edition of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e appeared in 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe manuscript provides an unusual opportunity to study the development of the language and ideas that ultimately became the foundation of A.A.’s principal text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEditorial markings appearing throughout the manuscript in different colors illustrate the collaborative process behind the Big Book and reveal changes considered during its formative stages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe volume also includes historical introduction and commentary providing context for the manuscript and its place in A.A. publishing history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLimited Edition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis is the deluxe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003enumbered limited edition\u003c\/span\u003e, restricted to only:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1,000 copies\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe book is bound in black leather with gold stamping and decorative gold borders to the front cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBecause this particular copy remains \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ecompletely unopened in its original shrink wrap\u003c\/span\u003e, the limitation number cannot be determined without breaking the original seal. It is being offered exactly as preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor the collector, the unopened state is arguably more desirable than identifying the individual number.\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=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubject:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original Working Manuscript of the Big Book\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Numbered Limited Edition\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLimitation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e One of 1,000 copies\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Deluxe black leather binding with gold decoration and lettering\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Oversized hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Unopened \/ Factory Sealed\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProtective Sleeve:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original white cardstock sleeve present\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLimitation Number:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Unknown — book remains sealed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This copy remains unopened in its original shrink wrap. Interior photographs shown in this listing are from another copy of the same limited edition and are included for reference only. The limitation number of the copy offered here is unknown because the original seal has not been broken.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAn exceptional unopened example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe book itself remains \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003esealed in its original plastic wrap and has never been opened\u003c\/span\u003e. The black leather binding and gold cover decoration visible beneath the wrap appear exceptionally well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe original white cardstock protective sleeve is also present. The sleeve shows light storage and handling wear, including minor edge and corner wear and a few small surface marks, as shown in the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe shrink wrap remains intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBecause the book has never been opened, the interior condition and individual limitation number have not been inspected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the most complete representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor collectors of early Alcoholics Anonymous publishing history, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Book That Started It All\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e occupies an unusual position. It allows the reader to examine the Big Book not simply as a finished publication, but as a document still being debated, edited, and refined immediately before its first appearance in 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003elimited leather edition of only 1,000 numbered copies\u003c\/span\u003e is considerably more collectible than the standard issue, and an example that has remained \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ecompletely unopened in its original wrap with its original protective sleeve\u003c\/span\u003e is especially appealing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA beautifully preserved collector’s edition documenting the creation of the book that became the central text of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67574934896882,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/CD228926-DCC2-419F-AD95-1C402A5708F5.jpg?v=1790475614","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/the-book-that-started-it-all-original-working-manuscript-of-alcoholics-anonymous-limited-edition-of-1-000-sealed","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}