Providence: Hadley Publishing, 1948. First Edition, First Printing. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. A stellar, investment‑grade copy of Hubbard’s wartime dystopian classic—the true 1948 First Edition & Printing, published by Hadley Publishing in Providence, Rhode Island.

Condition: Octavo, xi, 154pp. Bound in black boards with bright gilt spine lettering, clean and sharp, with no additional printings listed on the copyright page, as required. Condition is Near Fine: a small bump to the upper spine tip, gentle toning to the endpapers, otherwise tight, clean, and remarkably well‑preserved.

This copy retains its original Halladay‑designed first‑state dust jacket, correctly priced $3.00 on the front flap. The jacket is Near Fine with only light wear to folds and spine tips, minor toning to the rear panel and fold edges. A sharp, honest example—far better than typically encountered. (Currey, p. 256)

A standout copy of Hubbard’s bleak post‑apocalyptic vision published just four years before he founded the Church of Scientology. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (1911–1986) served as a U.S. naval officer during WWII and emerged as a prolific figure in mid‑century science fiction, with Final Blackout often cited as one of his most compelling early works.

A strong, collectible first printing—scarce in this condition and increasingly sought after.