How to spot a First Edition of Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Death of a Salesman stands as one of the most important works of 20th-century American drama. First published in 1949 by Viking Press, the first edition of this landmark play is highly sought after by collectors. However, distinguishing a true first edition from later printings or book club variants requires close attention to several issue points.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key first issue points of the book and dust jacket, as well as the known book club edition indicators.
First Edition Points
To confirm you have a true first edition, look for the following identifiers, starting with…:
The hardcover:
Publisher: Viking Press, 1949.
Binding: Orange cloth with spine and titles stamped in brown.
Copyright page: Should read “Published by the Viking Press in March 1949” with no mention of later printings.
Page 11, line 7: The word “solid” has a distinctive broken "o" — a key point of the first issue.
This jacket is price-clipped, but should present a price of $2.50 to the front flap.
Rear board: No blind stamp present. (Some book club variants carry a blind stamp on the lower right corner of the rear board.)
The dust jacket:
Front flap price: Priced at $2.50, no “Book Club” mention.
Typography: The second “S” in Salesman (in the title on the front panel) falls fully inside the yellow triangle, not outside of it — a small but critical detail for the true first issue jacket.
The second ‘S’ of “Salesman” is also fully inside the yellow triangle design.
Just in Case: Book Club Edition Points, below:
Book club editions are common and should not be confused with the true first. Here's how to spot one:
Dust jacket: May lack a price entirely or explicitly say “Book Club Edition” on the front flap.
Binding: Usually less robust than the trade edition; often in cardboard rather than cloth.
Blind stamp: A small blind-stamped square or circle may appear on the rear board, lower right corner.
Broken “o”: Some early book club issues may still contain the broken “o” on page 11, so this point alone is not sufficient to confirm a first edition.
Collector's Tip
The dust jacket is critical to value. A true first edition with the correct $2.50 price and the “S” in Salesman within the yellow triangle can command significantly more than copies with restored or replaced jackets. A pristine copy with an unclipped jacket and the correct textual and binding points can ultimately range into the thousands of dollars at auction or through rare book dealers.
Final Thoughts
Owning a true first edition of Death of a Salesman is like holding a piece of theatrical history. Whether you’re looking to add one to your collection or evaluate a copy in your possession, knowing these key points will help you distinguish between a literary treasure and a common reprint.
