8vo. (Front hinge starting at title.) Original red lettered grey cloth (some light toning at extreme edges); dust jacket (chipped with some short tears, old cellotape repairs on verso).

FIRST EDITION, in FIRST ISSUE DUST JACKET with the “Advance critical acclaim” reviews on the back panel, and “$3.00” on the front flap.

The earliest version of Under the Volcano was completed in 1940 and for the next four years Lowry tried to publish the work with various publishers, while continually editing the work. The manuscript was nearly lost in a fire in 1944; immediately afterward, Lowry inserted numerous references to infernos throughout the story, which was finally published in 1947.