Accession Registry
DRM-2026-942
Rarity Classification
Ultra-Legendary
Original Publisher & Origin
Works Publishing Company, New York
Acquisition Date
June 2026
Exhibition Hall: Heritage Archives
1976 Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book – Third Edition, First Printing – (ODJ)
Third Edition, First Printing (March 1976)
With Original Dust Jacket
With Original Dust Jacket
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Publication Date: March 1976
Dust Jacket Code: 150M–4/76(A)
Publication Date: March 1976
Dust Jacket Code: 150M–4/76(A)
Offered here is an authentic First Printing of the Third Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in March 1976 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., and complete with its original dust jacket.
The Third Edition marked a major milestone in A.A. history. Released at a time when worldwide membership had surpassed one million, this edition reflected the Fellowship’s dramatic growth and expanding diversity. While the core text (pages 1–164) remained unchanged from the original 1939 First Edition—preserving A.A.’s foundational message—the personal stories section was substantially revised.
This edition introduced forty-four personal stories, including thirteen new accounts, offering a broader and more representative picture of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous during the 1970s.
The First Printing of the Third Edition is identified by the dust jacket code “150M–4/76(A)”, printed on the bottom of the back flap—present on this copy.
Third Edition, First Printing
Published March 1976
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Navy blue cloth boards with gilt spine lettering
Original dust jacket present
Dust jacket code: 150M–4/76(A)
Book:
Good condition overall. Minimal wear to the cover; clean pages; a name and address written on the front end page; no other writing or markings; binding tight.
Good condition overall. Minimal wear to the cover; clean pages; a name and address written on the front end page; no other writing or markings; binding tight.
Dust Jacket:
Good — shows edge wear, stains, and rubbing but remains complete and legible. Has been placed in a protective plastic sleeve.
Please review all photographs carefully for exact condition details.
First Printing of the Third Edition
Issued during a pivotal period of explosive A.A. growth
Retains the original 1939 core text
Identifiable first-printing dust jacket code present
Increasingly collectible with original jacket intact
A solid and historically meaningful example of a Third Edition First Printing, ideal for collectors of A.A. literature, recovery history enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a well-documented copy from this important transitional era in Alcoholics Anonymous publishing.
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