Alcoholics Anonymous — [William Griffith "Bill" Wilson, et al] | First edition of one of the most influential books of the twentieth century

Alcoholics Anonymous — [William Griffith "Bill" Wilson, et al]

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism. New York: Works Publishing Company, 1939

8vo. Half-title; minor toning. Publisher's red cloth, cover and spine gilt-lettered; slight fraying to edges, minor soiling, upper joint starting, ownership inscription to front free endpaper. Original dust-jacket. Housed in custom clamshell case. [With:] Alcoholics Anonymous … New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1955. 8vo. A few instances of foxing, one or two instances of underlining in ink. Publisher's navy cloth; extremities rubbed, front free endpaper removed, gift inscription to half-title. Jacket present; backed and laminated, with nicks and closed tears. Second edition of "the Big Book."

First edition of one of the most influential books of the twentieth century, now with more than 25,000,000 copies in print.

The first edition of the "Big Book" is a legendary rarity, seldom found with its jacket, which has here been brilliantly preserved. The present volume is also accompanied by a typed note signed, stating: "This book was given to me by my father (Henry G. Parkhurst, Jr.) who told me that it was given to him by his father, Henry G. Parkhurst, Sr." 

Hank Parkhurst, a successful businessman in the early part of the 20th century, is regarded as the first alcoholic to recover through following Bill Wilson.

PROVENANCE

J.H. Moxon (ownership inscription to front free endpaper) — Henry G. Parkhurst (accompanying note, signed by Henry G. Parkhurst III)