Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Early Printing. 8vo. Pp. 223, [1, blank]. Publisher's Thomas Taylor illustrated card wraps, priced at £4.99 to rear. Lacking number sequence on the verso of the title page (but no later than a 20th printing overall, as the 21st p/b issue was the first to separate "r" and "1" on 'Thomas Taylor 1997' to copyright page).

Displays the following early issue points: The copyright holder is listed as 'Joanne' Rowling rather than J.K. Rowling; no space between "r" and "1" on Thomas Taylor 1997 on copyright page; no subsequent titles in the series listed on the verso of the half-title; nor Hogwart's School badge to half-title and title pages; line 1, page 8 has "highchair" instead of "high chair"; back cover synopsis has Harry "rescued by an owl" rather than "by a giant"; imagery of Dumbledore as a young man on the rear cover rather than as an old wizard; Sunday Telegraph blurb along the bottom front cover. Original "Smarties" 1997 Gold Award Winner sticker on front cover.

Previous ownership inscription to half-title and front pastedown, number-line to foot of copyright page rubbed out, partially sunned and creased to upper cover, tanned textblock edges, water stained to prelims and inner covers, else Very Good.

1997 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize winner. Carnegie Medal 1997 commendation. Listed at number 22 in BBC's Big Read, 200 Best Novels, [2003]. The first book in Rowling's phenomenally successful seven-volume fantasy series, chronicling the orphaned Harry's adventures as he fulfills his destiny, plays Quidditch for Hogwarts, and defends the world against the evil wizard Voldemort.

The idea of Harry Potter 'slid' into the mind of Joanne Rowling on a delayed train journey from Manchester to London in the summer of 1990, with the manuscript being completed early in 1996. UK rights were bought by Bloomsbury for an advance of £1,500, after HarperCollins, which also showed interest, was slow in making a definite offer. The title had previously been rejected by six other publishers.

In a unique broadcasting event, BBC Radio 4 cleared its schedule on the FM frequency for 26 December 2000 and beginning at 12 noon, the complete text of Philosopher's Stone was read out by Stephen Fry. Translated into more than 80 languages, and having sold in excess of 600 million copies worldwide, the series has become a cultural mainstay, inspiring numerous film and stage adaptations, theme parks, and a vast array of merchandise.

[Errington, Philip W., J.K. Rowling: A Bibliography, rev. ed. (London: Bloomsbury, 2017), A1(aa)]