{"product_id":"twelve-steps-twelve-traditions-1953-first-edition-first-printing","title":"AA Twelve Steps \u0026 Twelve Traditions 1953 First Edition First Printing","description":"\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, First Printing (1953)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e—one of the foundational books of Alcoholics Anonymous and Bill W.’s landmark expansion upon the principles first introduced in the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBig Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWritten as A.A. was moving from its formative years into a rapidly growing worldwide Fellowship, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve and Twelve\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e provided something the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBig Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e had not attempted in the same depth: a detailed examination of each of the Twelve Steps, followed by an equally important exploration of the Twelve Traditions and the hard-earned principles that allowed Alcoholics Anonymous to grow while preserving its unity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis copy is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. issue\u003c\/span\u003e and retains the distinctive original binding associated with that issue. It is accompanied by a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ereproduction of the blue-and-black streaked dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e for protection and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy the 1953 First Printing Matters\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBy the early 1950s, Alcoholics Anonymous had already demonstrated that its program could help alcoholics recover. A different challenge had emerged: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eCould a rapidly expanding Fellowship survive its own growth?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe Twelve Traditions grew from A.A.’s experiences confronting questions of money, authority, publicity, membership, organization, outside affiliation, and group autonomy. Rather than theoretical rules imposed from above, they represented lessons learned during A.A.’s earliest years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/i\u003e brought these two sides of A.A. together in a permanent book—the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSteps addressing the recovery of the individual and the Traditions addressing the survival and unity of the Fellowship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe publication itself came during an important period in A.A. history. Bill W. circulated manuscript material for review as the book was being prepared, and the 1953 General Service Conference was closely involved in the period surrounding its publication. A distribution arrangement with Harper \u0026amp; Brothers also helped place the new book before readers outside normal A.A. channels while Alcoholics Anonymous retained its own publishing identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eToday, an original 1953 first printing represents the beginning of a book that has remained central to A.A. life for more than seven decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwo 1953 First-Printing Issues\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eCollectors encounter two principal issues associated with the original 1953 publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. issue\u003c\/span\u003e, represented by this copy, is associated with the blue-and-black streaked jacket design and an A.A. Publishing title page without an author credit. The binding consists of dark paper-covered boards with a contrasting black cloth spine lettered in gilt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Brothers \u003c\/b\u003eissue\u003c\/span\u003e was produced as part of the arrangement intended to broaden distribution outside A.A. channels. It differs in its binding, jacket, title-page information, and Harper identification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBoth belong to the story of the book’s original 1953 appearance, but for collectors of material issued directly by Alcoholics Anonymous, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. version has an especially natural place alongside early Big Books and other original A.A. publications.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\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 1953\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCopyright Page:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e “FIRST EDITION D-C”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Paper-covered boards with black cloth spine and gilt lettering\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Reproduction dust jacket included; original jacket is not present\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis copy is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003egood condition overall\u003c\/span\u003e, with a solid and attractive spine but notable evidence of age and previous ownership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe original boards show general shelf wear, rubbing, scuffing, and discoloration consistent with a book of this age. Most notably, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003efront board has substantial irregular staining\/water marking\u003c\/span\u003e, readily visible in the photographs. The rear board shows lighter rubbing and surface wear, with additional wear at the corners and edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe black cloth spine remains quite presentable, with the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003egilt title lettering and decorative lines still clearly visible\u003c\/span\u003e. There is light wear at the spine ends and along the extremities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eInternally, the pages display expected age toning but appear generally clean and well preserved. The binding appears intact and the book remains suitable for careful reading and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThere are \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003etwo separate previous-owner inscriptions\u003c\/span\u003e. A large blue-ink inscription\/signature appears on the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003efront pastedown\u003c\/span\u003e, and another handwritten ownership inscription in red ink appears on the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003erear pastedown\u003c\/span\u003e, including a name and address.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe included blue-and-black streaked \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003edust jacket is a reproduction and is not original to the book\u003c\/span\u003e. It presents very nicely and recreates the appearance associated with the Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. issue while protecting the original binding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease view all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description and show the exact copy being offered.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFew books occupy a more important position in the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous. The \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBig Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e introduced the program and carried its message of recovery to the alcoholic; the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve and Twelve\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e went deeper into the spiritual principles behind that recovery while preserving the accumulated experience that allowed the Fellowship itself to endure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1953 First Edition, First Printing\u003c\/span\u003e offers the opportunity to own the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve and Twelve\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e as it first appeared during one of the most consequential periods in the development of Alcoholics Anonymous—an important early A.A. collectible and an essential companion to a collection of early \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e editions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49953902690546,"sku":null,"price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/FE8E5494-B7BB-421C-A298-A8BFC7E7779F.jpg?v=1787248850","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/twelve-steps-twelve-traditions-1953-first-edition-first-printing","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}