1944 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 1ST EDITION 5th Printing BIG BOOK Baby Blue AA RAREST
Item History & Price
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.
New York: Works Publishing Company, 1944 (Stated First Edition, 5th Printing, January 1944).
An early first edition printing of "The Big Book" published only five years after the much sought-after 1939 first printing of Alcoholics Anonymous. This was the LAST "Big Book" in terms of size, with wartime printing downsizing beginning with the 6th printing. The Big Book got its nickname from its size. It was printed on thick paper and... had wide margins. This was an attempt by Bill W to give the impression the purchaser was getting something for the price $4.50, which was very high in 1939. This fifth printing was published in an edition of only 5000 copies, 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 the 13th printing and 49, 800 for the 14th printings. It is thought that perhaps maybe only half of this 1944 5th printing survived, with much fewer surviving with their dust jackets; with added interest is the blue colored boards, which were only used in the first 1500-2000 books printed in this run.
This copy is in original smooth light blue cloth, blindstamped to the front board and stamped in gold on the spine. Sadly, the spine imprint is nearly worn away, the upper board blindstamp also still there but barely visible. The corners of the volume, the book's edges, as well as the spine extremities are threadworn, but the hinges are fully intact. There is some moderate soiling to the boards. Other than some old library paper scars and adhesive remnants to the endpapers and pastedowns, the book has held its integrity and is solid and square-backed without loose signatures. There is a blindstamped library seal on the title, a few library cataloging numbers and stamps to the TOC, and one underline on the first leaf of text; other than that the interior pages are very good and without markings. Overall a good plus copy of what is now a rather scarce book. Keep in mind, that these books were used heavily. Few would survive with their dust jackets or survive in fine condition, if at all. First edition, fifth printing; 400 pages including the appendix in the publisher's original blue cloth. Hardcover sans dust jacket. Good luck!
00009
New York: Works Publishing Company, 1944 (Stated First Edition, 5th Printing, January 1944).
An early first edition printing of "The Big Book" published only five years after the much sought-after 1939 first printing of Alcoholics Anonymous. This was the LAST "Big Book" in terms of size, with wartime printing downsizing beginning with the 6th printing. The Big Book got its nickname from its size. It was printed on thick paper and... had wide margins. This was an attempt by Bill W to give the impression the purchaser was getting something for the price $4.50, which was very high in 1939. This fifth printing was published in an edition of only 5000 copies, 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 the 13th printing and 49, 800 for the 14th printings. It is thought that perhaps maybe only half of this 1944 5th printing survived, with much fewer surviving with their dust jackets; with added interest is the blue colored boards, which were only used in the first 1500-2000 books printed in this run.
This copy is in original smooth light blue cloth, blindstamped to the front board and stamped in gold on the spine. Sadly, the spine imprint is nearly worn away, the upper board blindstamp also still there but barely visible. The corners of the volume, the book's edges, as well as the spine extremities are threadworn, but the hinges are fully intact. There is some moderate soiling to the boards. Other than some old library paper scars and adhesive remnants to the endpapers and pastedowns, the book has held its integrity and is solid and square-backed without loose signatures. There is a blindstamped library seal on the title, a few library cataloging numbers and stamps to the TOC, and one underline on the first leaf of text; other than that the interior pages are very good and without markings. Overall a good plus copy of what is now a rather scarce book. Keep in mind, that these books were used heavily. Few would survive with their dust jackets or survive in fine condition, if at all. First edition, fifth printing; 400 pages including the appendix in the publisher's original blue cloth. Hardcover sans dust jacket. Good luck!
00009
