“THIS TOKEN OF MY AFFECTION, AND OF ALL THAT YOU DID TO MAKE THIS BOOK WHAT IT IS! GRATEFULLY, BILL”: PRESENTATION ASSOCIATION FIRST EDITION OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY BILL WILSON IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION

(ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS) [WILSON, Bill]. Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: A Brief History of A.A. New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, (1957). Octavo, original black and blue cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $8500.

First edition of Bill Wilson’s early history of Alcoholics Anonymous, inscribed: “Dear Art-Please have this token of my affection, and of all that you did to make this book what it is! Gratefully, Bill. NY/9/29/57.”

A compilation of histories of Alcoholics Anonymous from various perspectives, including the medical and religious. Arthur Daley, the recipient of this volume, was a close friend of Wilson’s and a Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter for the New York Times. Also a photographer, Daley is believed to have taken the photograph of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth that appears in the book.

Book fine. Light edgewear to bright, near-fine dust jacket. An exceptional presentation/association volume.