{"product_id":"twelve-steps-twelve-traditions-1953-first-printing-signed-bill-wilson","title":"Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions — First Edition, First Printing (1953) — Inscribed by Bill W. — Custom Bound","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Remarkably Personal Piece of A.A. History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Edition, First Printing of Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published in 1953 by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc., with an extraordinary personal association: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ethe book is inscribed by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson to Eleanor “Ellie” Leahey in gratitude for her part in the celebration of his 22nd anniversary of sobriety\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eMore than simply a signed first printing, this is a book that was clearly \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eowned, used, studied, and personalized by someone within Bill Wilson’s circle\u003c\/span\u003e. Its custom binding, extensive handwritten notes, and deeply personal inscription give the volume a character entirely different from an untouched collector’s copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill Wilson’s Inscription\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOn the original first blank page, Bill W. wrote:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Dear Eleanor —\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease have this\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ein gratitude for\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eyour part in my\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e22nd anniversary.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNY | 11\/20\/56\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe date is particularly meaningful. Bill Wilson’s sobriety date was \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDecember 11, 1934\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, making 1956 the year of his 22nd anniversary. Rather than a routine autograph, the inscription records Bill personally thanking Eleanor for the part she played in marking that milestone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEleanor “Ellie” Leahey’s Copy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe recipient was \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eEleanor “Ellie” Leahey\u003c\/span\u003e, whose name and address labels remain affixed to the front pastedown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAt some point during her ownership, the volume was \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eprofessionally rebound in red cloth\u003c\/span\u003e, with the title stamped in gold on the spine and her initials, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“E.B.L.,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e stamped in gold at the lower corner of the front board.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAs part of the custom binding, two additional leaves were inserted at the front of the volume. Importantly, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill’s inscription appears on the original first blank leaf of the book\u003c\/span\u003e, preserved within the new binding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis personalization makes the book particularly compelling. It was not simply acquired as a collectible and placed on a shelf—it became Eleanor’s own working copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Book That Was Used\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThroughout the text are extensive handwritten annotations, underlining, marginal notes, and highlighting. The markings provide a fascinating glimpse into the way the book was actually read and studied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWords and passages were underlined. Thoughts were written into the margins. Sections were emphasized and commented upon. The book bears the evidence of years of engagement with the Steps and Traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor a volume with this association, those signs of use are an important part of its story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe First Printing of the \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwelve \u0026amp; Twelve\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePublished in 1953, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e was Bill Wilson’s second major book-length contribution to A.A. literature following \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWhile the Big Book established A.A.’s program and preserved the experiences of its early members, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve \u0026amp; Twelve\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e allowed Bill to explore each of the Twelve Steps individually and to provide extended essays on the Twelve Traditions that had developed during A.A.’s extraordinary growth in the 1940s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis copy is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc. issue of the First Edition, First Printing\u003c\/span\u003e, identified on the copyright page by the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“FIRST EDITION \/ D-C”\u003c\/span\u003e statement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThat alone makes it an important early A.A. publication. Bill’s personal inscription transforms this particular copy into an association piece tied directly to his own recovery history.\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\"\u003eThe book is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003egood condition\u003c\/span\u003e, custom bound in red cloth with gilt spine lettering and the owner’s initials, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eE.B.L.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, stamped in gilt on the front board. The binding remains attractive and presents well, with some light exterior wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe interior shows considerable evidence of use. There are \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ehandwritten notes, marginal annotations, underlining, and highlighting throughout\u003c\/span\u003e, along with scattered staining and other signs of age and handling. Owner address labels are affixed to the front pastedown, and additional handwritten information appears among the preliminary leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAn additional pages were incorporated at the front when the book was custom bound. \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill Wilson’s inscription remains on the original first blank page\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNo dust jacket is present.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.\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=\"p3\"\u003eThere are first printings of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwelve \u0026amp; Twelve\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, and there are signed copies. This volume offers something considerably more personal: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ea first printing given by Bill Wilson to a known recipient specifically in gratitude for her participation in the celebration of his 22nd year of sobriety.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIts custom binding bearing Eleanor’s initials and its heavily worked interior preserve what happened afterward—the book became hers. She read it, marked it, studied it, and made it her own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor the collector of significant A.A. association material, that combination of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003efirst-printing status, direct Bill Wilson inscription, named recipient, anniversary connection, and evidence of personal use\u003c\/span\u003e gives this copy a remarkable story.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49968677912818,"sku":null,"price":2995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/096AC449-D2FD-4749-998B-9E76333802E6.jpg?v=1787461027","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/twelve-steps-twelve-traditions-1953-first-printing-signed-bill-wilson","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}