The points of issue
First edition contains the original one-act verse version, paired with 'A Memory of Two Mondays,' distinct from Miller's later two-act revision. The pairing matches the 29 September 1955 Coronet Theatre double bill. Copyright page carries the dated Viking first-printing statement with no later printings listed.
Is this the true first?
US Viking 1955 is the true first of the original one-act text. The expanded two-act version (Cresset Press, London, 1956) is a separate 'first thus' for the revised play.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add printing history; the first issue carries only the dated Viking statement. The one-act versus two-act text distinction matters more than printing for this title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A View from the Bridge a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition contains the original one-act verse version, paired with 'A Memory of Two Mondays,' distinct from Miller's later two-act revision. The pairing matches the 29 September 1955 Coronet Theatre double bill. Copyright page carries the dated Viking first-printing statement with no later printings listed.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Viking 1955 is the true first of the original one-act text. The expanded two-act version (Cresset Press, London, 1956) is a separate 'first thus' for the revised play.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings add printing history; the first issue carries only the dated Viking statement. The one-act versus two-act text distinction matters more than printing for this title.
I have a first edition of A View from the Bridge — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.