Rowling, J.K. | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the uncorrected proof, with the author's signature

Rowling, J.K.

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

8vo. Original white and yellow wrappers; minor creasing along spine, otherwise a remarkably bright copy.

The uncorrected proof, with J.K. Rowling's signature tipped in on Bloomsbury Children's Books notepaper.

After six years of writing and one year of pitching to publishers, J.K. Rowling succeeded in having her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published by Bloomsbury on 26 June 1997. Barry Cunningham, her agent at Bloomsbury, sent this advance proof copy to a select group of authors, critics and booksellers. The text was slightly reset for the first English edition and the title-page gives the author as "J.A. Rowling." Errington notes that "an unconfirmed print-run of 200 copies is generally accepted" which "is also the figure noted by Bloomsbury."

The first appearance in print of Harry Potter.

REFERENCE:

Errington, Rowling AA1(a)