Mar 01, 20 alcoholics anonymous big book represents a fine example of demand driven scarcity. Alcoholics anonymous big book large printb16 paperback published june 1st 1991 by alcoholics anonymous world services paperback, 573 pages. Jerry needed to know so he started upon a project to identify the changes that were made to various printings and editions of the big book. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists a sentiment. The alcoholics anonymous big book is not just the most influential self help book ever. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing hardcover book, signed and inscribed by aa cofounder bill wilson on the front free endpaper. Alcoholics anonymous big booklarge printb16 paperback published june 1st 1991 by alcoholics anonymous world services paperback, 573 pages. This is the official website of the general service office g. Which at the time was almost unheard of for a book. Alcoholics anonymous big book represents a fine example of demand driven scarcity. The description says 2nd edition big book, not the same 164 pages and the same forewords that are in the 3rd and 4th editions. Alcoholics anonymousthe big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. First is a first edition, first printing of the big book from april 1939 in its original jacket, signed by bill wilson. The holy grail of aa big book collections heads to auction fine.
Bills association with the book began in the early 1990s. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. Based on the readily available reference material, bill wilson was the author of the chapter of the big book titled. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. That book really did speak to me at the time and throughout it. In 1995 aas general service conference ruled by advisory action that, the first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, the preface, the forewords, the doctors opinion, doctor bobs nightmare and the appendices remain as is. The book will probably never go out of print as it has set the standard for fighting addictions. Special edition with red hardcover binding, the famous circus cover dust jacket and bulky paper which was why it was initially called the big book. Alcoholics anonymous first edition second printings for. Fourth edition 2001 of the big book, basic text of a.
Alcoholics anonymous big books 1939 first editions, first printings. When i read the descriptions of what an alcoholic is in the big book i have yet to find any reference that and an unmanageable life has anything to do with whether or not a person is alcoholic or nonalcoholic. I wanted a 2nd edition aa big book to read the different stories in the back. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, the preface, the forewords, the doctors opinion, dr.
Rare collection of nineteen alcoholics anonymous books going. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Also, the word really was misspelled as realy in the sixth line on page xx. The big book that gave alcoholics hope in 12 steps turns 75. We the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc 1. Intergroup historys alcoholics anonymous west pasco. Part of cover is slightly faded from where dust jacket had been pressed on to it. Alcoholics anonymous 2nd edition 2nd printing 1955.
There were 4,730 books printed, with red cloth binding, wide columns, thick paper which was why it was called the big book in the first place, and a red, yellow. Collection of the 16 printings of the first edition of the. If that had been the way the message of aa was passed to me i doubt i would have heard much. Aa first edition, second printing march, 1941 big books available for purchase. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. Alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first edition. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the. Jul 17, 2016 alcoholics anonymous, preface to the third edition, p.
To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The first edition went through 16 printings before the publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976, and a more recent fourth edition in 2001. William duncan silkworth henceforth be removed from all printings of the big book. The seventh edition from 1945 is the rarest estimates. The holy grail of aa big book collections heads to. Nicknamed the big book by the early aa members for its thick paper and wide margins, the books history began in 1934 when bill wilson, an alcoholic stockbroker who had found sobriety. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w.
These regulations were put in place to conserve paper by limiting the size and weight of books. I have read that the 3rd edition is the unchanged original text of the 1939 print but that part ii has more stories for those who are not sure they are alcoholics. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. The herbert spencer quote first appeared in the first edition, first printing of the big book 1939, on page 380, at the beginning of the story an artists concept. Editions of alcoholics anonymous by alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous first edition second printings for sale. First published in 1939, alcoholics anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. Feb 09, 2020 we are bringing to you a series about the alcoholics anonymous basic text. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing big book origin of the aa twelve step system. Interior very good pages of book are clean and marking free, with only writing being previous owners name to first blank page and inside back cover board.
It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. Whether youre new to aa, or youre a seasoned veteran, this is the easiest and most useful app to aid in your recovery. The quote was included with this story throughout all 16 printings of the first edition, from 1939 through 1955. If you do not have adobe reader loaded on your computer you wont have the capability of opening these records.
Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book abebooks. Go to third printing big books see all the printings of the first. The big book the main 164 pages, prayers, personal stories, and more. How to define the different uk printings of the alcoholics. Alcoholics anonymous, preface to the third edition, p. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. New listingalcoholics anonymous 1st edition 12th printing 1948 odj aa big book bill w. The sixteen printings of the first edition of the alcoholics anonymous big books, one of the most important and influential texts of the 20th century, offering hope to many thousands who sought succor from the scourge of alcoholism, and presenting a solid path to sobriety. I feel its important for a recovering alcoholic to encounter the history of aa because they need to know where aa came from and what made and makes alcoholics anonymous tick.
The holy grail of aa big book collections heads to auction. In this series we will be discussing much of the history surrounding the first edition big book. Although it was not the first help book to be published, it proved to be the most collectible in its category. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 1st printing 1939 dj aa big. This is the 1st printing of the aa big book of which there were only 4,650 to 4,670 copies printed, far fewer than the ensuing printings that included 20,000 for the 8th and 9th printings, 25,000 for the 10th and 11th printing, 42,350 for the 12th printing, 50,000 for. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. The first printing of the first edition was published in april of 1939, followed by. The white book, narcotics anonymous, was published in 1962.
Mar 08, 2018 in 1995 aas general service conference ruled by advisory action that, the first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, the preface, the forewords, the doctors opinion, doctor bobs nightmare and the appendices remain as is. Feb, 2020 during world war ii, the united states government placed regulations on book printings. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc.
Pankhurst started drinking again after the big book was published and died in 1954. F166 a brief history of the big book in may 1938, when bill w. This book has been a lifeline to millions for over 75 years. There were 16 printings in all between 1939 and 1954. The need for more specific direction was readily apparent. The big book that gave alcoholics hope in 12 steps turns. Alcoholics anonymous big book 1st edition 75th anniversary. The first printing of the first edition was published in april of 1939, followed by 15 more printings up until the release of the 2nd edition in 1955. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 1st printing 1939 dj aa big book. It took almost two years to sell the 4,650 copies of the first printing. The entire collection tells the story of aas explosive growth and the printing changes from april 1939 when the book first appeared, through the final printing of.
Alcoholics victorious and overcomers outreach, inc. Taken together, this evidence confirms the stated publication date of 1954 for the first uk edition of the big book. Alcoholics anonymous first printing second edition new. There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. Big book changes these are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeral pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939. This was reaffirmed by advisory actions in 1998, 1999, 2000, and twice in 2001. This collection is truly the holy grail of aa books containing all 16 first edition printings in various colors, each in their original dust jackets for a total of 19 books. The free version features the full text of the big book, prayers, personal stories, podcasts, meeting finder, and more. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 1st printing 1939 dj aa. Spine wear at top and bottom with a 1 inch tear on front top. We are bringing to you a series about the alcoholics anonymous basic text.
New stories have been added to the personal histories. Aa first edition, first printing april, 1939 big books available for purchase. Alcoholics anonymous 2nd edition 2nd printing 1955 original. Previous owners name on inside front and back boards with personal library plate on front blank page. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. T he alcoholics anonymous big book is not just the most influential self help book ever published. The top bookseller of collectible copies of the aa big book is bill schaberg of athena rare books in fairfield, connecticut.
This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Apr 10, 2014 as of january 1, 20, the general services office of alcoholics anonymous estimated there are 114, 642 aa groups in more than 170 nations with more than 2,1,549 members. Membership grew rapidly for a time and then began to decline. Alcoholics anonymous shop big book 75th anniversary 1st. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, second printing 1941 big book. There is a mark that runs up and down along the entire cover close to edge of spine. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing inscribed and signed by aas cofounder bill wilson. Each 1st reference given in red is from the first edition.
Alcoholics anonymous big book 1st edition th printing. Rare collection of nineteen alcoholics anonymous books. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939 for sale. In this series, we will be discussing much of the history surrounding the first edition big book. This first printing was dated 1955 on the title page. As of january 1, 20, the general services office of alcoholics anonymous estimated there are 114, 642 aa groups in more than 170 nations with more than 2,1,549 members. This has by all accounts made the good book and the big book the most popular and widely used a. The original twelvestep method, the aa big book gives descriptive detail on how to recover from alcoholism.
Big book changes these are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeraled pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939. The faithbased net addiction training institute in florida uses the book in its agenda. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, thirteenth printing 1950 big book. William schaberg, aa expert, antiquarian book dealer and author of writing the big book. Printing in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Today, alcoholics anonymous has millions of members. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism.
I started one evening and continued reading till it was done. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976. As we all know, aa grew and developed across the world. Authorised reproduction of the first edition of alcoholics anonymous. A lcoholics anonymous first edition, second printing 1941 big book. Alcoholics anonymousthe big bookhas served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. The original 1939 edition is a must have for anyone who has a passion for the history of alcoholics anonymous. During world war ii, the united states government placed regulations on book printings. Its one of the 20th centurys most significant books and early copies are treasured by numerous collectors. The fellowship still had little structure, however, and the 1960s were a period of struggle. A draft fourth edition of the big book, alcoholics anonymous be developed and a progress report be brought to the 1998 conference literature committee, keeping in mind the 1995 advisory action that. The numbering of the 2nd reference is from the 2nd through the 4th editions which hasnt.
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