J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, ex-library copy

J.K. Rowling

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

FIRST EDITION ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on publisher's imprint page), HARDBACK ISSUE, 8vo (197 x 125 mm.), original laminated pictorial boards by Thomas Taylor, browning to text leaves, wear to boards (including c.1.5cm loss at tail of spine and reinforcement of spine with transparent sticky-back plastic), lacking front free endpaper

This legendary rarity was issued in an edition of 500 copies hardback and 5150 copies of the paperback, with no priority for either issue. Approximately 300 of the hardback copies were sent immediately to libraries, including the present copy.

The seventh line of the publisher's imprint page carries no space between "Taylor" and "1997"; p. 53 has in "Other Equipment" listed twice "1 wand"; the lower cover has misspelt "Philospher's".

This was the illustrator Thomas Taylor's first professional commission and his impression of the sorcerer on the lower cover was a personal generic representation. "I was asked to provide a "wizard to decorate the back cover". So I did. The books are full of magical characters and sorcerers, so it wasn't difficult to conjure up one of my own. It never even crossed my mind to depict Dumbledore". The publishers were inundated with queries over this depiction and it was later replaced by a specific portrayal by Taylor of Dumbledore, probably for the 18th impression.

PROVENANCE:

Isle of Wight County Library, ink stamp and "withdrawn" stamps

LITERATURE:

Errington, Rowling A1(a)