# Is "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (The Viking Press, 1949) is identified by: Copyright page reads 'Published by the Viking Press in March 1949' with no later printings listed. US Viking 1949 is the true first (precedes the UK Cresset Press 1949).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page reads 'Published by the Viking Press in March 1949' with no later printings listed
- Broken/imperfect type in 'solid' on page 11 is the recognized first-issue typographic point
- Orange cloth, spine and titles stamped in brown
- Jo Mielziner stage-set pictorial endpapers
- First-issue dust jacket designed by Joseph Hirsch, the printed price intact, with the jacket art positioned such that the 'S' of 'Salesman' aligns with the figure's elbow on the front panel, and the author photo on the rear flap
- Publisher imprint reads The Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Arthur Miller |
| Publisher | The Viking Press |
| Year | 1949 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page reads 'Published by the Viking Press in March 1949' with no later printings listed |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page reads 'Published by the Viking Press in March 1949' with no later printings listed. Broken/imperfect type in 'solid' on page 11 is the recognized first-issue typographic point. Orange cloth, spine and titles stamped in brown; Jo Mielziner stage-set pictorial endpapers. First-issue dust jacket designed by Joseph Hirsch, the printed price intact, with the jacket art positioned such that the 'S' of 'Salesman' aligns with the figure's elbow on the front panel, and the author photo on the rear flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Viking 1949 is the true first (precedes the UK Cresset Press 1949). Beware jacket-restored or married copies.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book Club Edition: jacket lacks the printed price or states 'Book Club Edition'; binding is often boards rather than cloth; a blind-stamped dot or mark appears at the lower-right rear board. The broken type alone is NOT conclusive, since some early club copies retain it; require the cloth binding plus the priced unclipped jacket plus the 'March 1949' statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Death of a Salesman* by Arthur Miller a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/death-of-a-salesman
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.