A Rare Working Manuscript of the ‘Big Book’ of Alcoholics Anonymous Tagged Up To $2 M. Heads to Auction at Christie’s from Jim Irsay Estate

A rare working copy of Alcoholics Anonymous, the basic text of the 12-step program, also known as “the Big Book,” is coming to auction at Christies New York on July 1 at its Rockefeller Center salesroom. It comes from the collection of the late billionaire Jim Irsay. Bearing extensive handwritten notations and edits by the authors, it is estimated to sell for between $1 and $2 million. The proceeds will go to philanthropic causes that were important to Irsay.

The manuscript has sold for various prices over the years; the next buyer may get it at a discount relative to its last outing. Irsay bought the manuscript in 2018 from auction house Profiles in History for $2.4 million, per ESPN; it had previously come to auction twice at Sotheby’s, ESPN reports: in 2004, when it went for $1.6 million, and in 2007, when it fetched $992,000.

“Our dad understood the struggles countless people everywhere face every day and wanted so badly to bring hope and relief to anyone who was suffering,” said Irsay’s daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson, in press materials. “This manuscript did just that by introducing the 12-step program to the world and saving millions of lives everywhere. As he was fond of saying, its sheer impact on the world makes it one of the most impactful books ever written.” 

Indeed, the Library of Congress has classified Alcoholics Anonymous as one of the 88 “Books That Shaped America.” More than 30 million copies have sold, and it has been translated into 43 languages. In 2021, AA’s General Services Office estimated that some 12,455 AA groups were in operation, with a total worldwide membership of nearly two million.

The sisters add, “He loved every item he acquired but was asked many times which he would save if he only could save one. His answer was always The Big Book.”

AA historian Bill Schaberg notes that “before the book was published there was no concrete formulation of their program of recovery, and, most especially, there were no clearly articulated Twelve Steps that drinkers could follow as a road map for getting and staying sober.”

The 167-page typescript has three pages written in pencil, with annotations and revisions by Wilson along with early AA member Hank Parkhurst, some in green and red pencil, some in ink. Also included is a presentation leaf from Lois Wilson, Bill’s widow, that is bound in and reads: “I joyfully give this multilith copy of the AA book, one of my most precious possessions, to you, dear Barry, as evidence of my deep gratitude for all you have done for AA, for Al-Anon, & particularly for me … 1/1/78.”

AA grew out of Wilson’s experience of losing his Wall Street career, his reputation, and his health to alcoholism by 1934. During his final hospitalization, he had what he called a “white light” experience, realizing that a spiritual change was key to recovery from the deadly condition. The eventual development of the 12 steps grew partly out of the example of the Oxford Group, a Christian sobriety movement that centered on surrendering one’s life to God and undergoing a process of moral inventory, confession, and amends, which would be echoed in the 12 steps. Also influential was Dr. William Silkworth’s description of alcoholism as a physical allergy coupled with a mental obsession.

Wilson met Dr. Bob Smith, who was also trying to tame his alcoholism, in Akron, Ohio, in 1935, and their conversations led to the idea that one alcoholic helping another could be essential to recovery, which few alcoholics had achieved on their own.

Those also interested in the history of 12-step programs but on a tighter budget might wish to bid on a signed first edition, first printing, signed by Wilson and estimated at $15,000 to $25,000.

Irsay, whose wealth Forbes estimated at $4.8 billion at his death in 2025, had been owner of the NFL team the Indianapolis Colts since 1997. In March, Christie’s sold Irsay’s collection of music memorabilia, including Kurt Cobain’s guitar, John Lennon’s piano from “Sgt. Pepper” and Ringo Starr’s “Ed Sullivan” drum kit. The four sales totaled $94.5 million, nearly four times the low estimate, making it the highest-grossing memorabilia auction ever staged.

The July 1 sale also features an 1823 copy of the Declaration of Independence, tagged at up to $3 million, and a signed letter from George Washington, that accompanied a copy of the US Constitution sent to Thomas Jefferson, bearing a high estimate of $2.5 million.