Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

Offered here is a first UK edition, first printing, second state of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, one of the most important and desirable titles in the series for collectors.

While three states of the first printing were originally proposed, the so-called third state is now widely accepted as the first Australian edition. This copy represents the true second state of the UK first printing, featuring J.K. Rowling listed on the copyright page and the complete number line: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, confirming its status as a genuine first edition.

The book and original dust jacket are in pristine condition, with no fading. Pages are bright, clean, and unmarked, with no inscriptions or ownership names. The dust jacket is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover, whilst the book itself is clearly unread, with a tight binding, square boards, and sharp corners. There is no foxing, creasing, or page-edge toning, an exceptionally rare survival for early Harry Potter printings, which were produced on notoriously poor-quality paper stock. The book comes in a custom made dark green clamshell box with purple inner trays and gold gilt lettering to the spine.

First UK editions from the initial Bloomsbury print run are particularly scarce, especially in superior condition, owing to modest original production numbers and heavy early readership. It is believed that approximately 5,000 copies of the first printing were issued across both states, though the precise breakdown remains unknown. As a result, fine or better examples have become increasingly difficult to source. As a cornerstone of modern children’s literature and one of the most actively collected works of contemporary fiction, this edition continues to command sustained interest from collectors.

Further references:

• Bloomsbury Publishing – Harry Potter Series
• J.K. Rowling Official Website