Our Bodies, Our Selves: A Course By and For Women (New Printing of Women & Their Bodies)

Boston, MA, U.S.A.: New England Free Press, 1972. First Edition Later Printing 2nd Printing. Soft cover. Very Good. Precursor to the book of the same name (with a slightly different subtitle) that would become a cornerstone of the second-wave feminist movement of the 1970s, breaking all kinds of barriers that stood in the way of women taking control of their own bodies & health. Born at a 1969 workshop entitled, "Women and Their Bodies," it was first published by the Boston Women's Health Course Collective & printed by the New England Free Press in that same city in 1971. We believe that this is the Second Printing (described as "New Printing of Women & Their Bodies" on the front cover), described by the editors as having been "rushed to print with no revisions since the first printing sold out so quickly." In a brief editorial note on the Table of Contents page, they outline revisions they plan to make in the upcoming 3rd printing, & reach out to readers for additional suggestions of what they would like to see included. On the verso of this page, however, print runs & dates through the 8th printing in July 1972 are listed (so this may be that 8th printing, retaining the 2nd printing notice?) Unlike the softcover book in stiff white wrappers decorated in color that is so familiar to all women over the past five decades, this early edition was still on newsprint, in black & white, with a cover price of $.35. It consists of 3 sections (each about 44 pages, stapled together on the left) in 136 pages + a two-page letter from the editors outlining their plans for turning this "course" into a book to be published by Simon & Schuster in the interest of using the publisher's massive distribution network to get it into the hands of as many women as possible, far more than the Collective could manage. It became a reality in 1973. The book remains a critical cornerstone in the movement for women's rights & has never been out of print. Extremely scarce in this printing, with only 2 copies available in the trade & 2 held by libraries (in Germany & the Netherlands) as of this writing (Nov. 2023). Off-white wrappers show tanning around all edges. Only flaw is a torn triangular section to top edge of front cover (1.25" x 1.25" x .75"), with tiny (.25" vertical tear to same area on following 2 pages) & a few microscopic tears/nicks to same edge. Staples are secure with no rust. Our photos depict he Exact book you will receive from us--never "stock" images of books we don't actually have! Same Day Shipping on all orders received by 2 pm weekdays (Pacific); later orders, weekends & holidays ship very next business day.