J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. London: Bloomsbury, 1997

8vo, FIRST EDITION, hardback issue ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on publisher's imprint page), INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR on the dedication page, original pictorial paper wrappers after Thomas Taylor, leaves slightly toned (as usual), binding slightly bumped at spine and extremities

A MAGICAL COPY, FRESH TO THE MARKET, OF THE BOOK THAT INTRODUCED THE BESPECTACLED BOY WIZARD TO THE WORLD, WITH A RARE PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION TO CLOSE FRIENDS: "11.6.97 | For Deirdre & Gerry, | with love & thanks | for everything, | You-Know-Who. | a.k.a. "J.K. Rowling" | X".

Deirdre was a close friend of Rowling's sister Di, with whom she completed nurse training. It was at this time that Deirdre first met Jo, at that point an undergraduate at the University of Exeter. Later, when Jo moved to Edinburgh to be near Di, Deirdre and Jo became close, bonding through the mutual experience of first-time parenthood.

Rowling begins by wittily signing off her inscription as "You-Know-Who", the euphemistic name for Harry's nemesis Lord Voldemort. She then signs off again as "J.K. Rowling", the pen name famously adopted at the behest of publishers. At this point in time, the role of professional author must have felt very unfamiliar to her. Though Scholastic had bought the US rights to the novel in April 1997 for the unusually large sum of $105,000, an early vote of confidence in her abilities as a storyteller, she would have had no idea that she was on the cusp of introducing the world to what would quickly become the greatest publishing success story of the twenty first century, spawning a multi-billion dollar movie franchise, and providing an enduring cultural touchstone for millions of fans worldwide.

On 26 June 1997, Bloomsbury published Philosopher's Stone with an initial print-run of 500 copies in hardback, released simultaneously with the 5,150 copies of the paperback issue. Of the hardback issue copies, three hundred were distributed to libraries, with the remaining two hundred allocated for bookshops.

A first edition hardback issue Philosopher's Stone is scarce at auction, let alone a copy without the wear and tear that one might expect from a much-loved children's book. A copy with a pre-publication inscription dating from this early on is more elusive than the Golden Snitch. The copy that Rowling gave to her father and stepmother also contains an inscription dated 11 June 1997, as does the paperback issue inscribed to Rowling's friends Martin and Nicole (sold Sotheby's, 11 July 2024, lot 237), so the present copy must contain one of the very earliest inscriptions in existence.

PROVENANCE:

Inscribed by the author to the present owner on 11 June 1997

LITERATURE:

Errington, Rowling A1(a)