Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

This is a third printing UK copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a highly sought-after edition as it represents the first printing issued with a dust jacket. While first and second printings are often beyond the reach of many collectors, this more accessible third printing offers an excellent opportunity to own an early example of this iconic title.

The dust jacket is particularly notable, displaying the correct, slightly more purple, distinct from the deeper blue of the book’s rear board. Later printings feature a more uniformly blue jacket, making this subtle colour variation an important point of identification as many third printings are often paired with later jackets.

The book is in fine condition in a like jacket but for only some slight fading to the very top of the spine, protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The book itself shows no colour fading and appears unread, with a tight binding, square boards, and sharp corners. Internally, the pages are exceptionally clean, free from marks, creases, ownership inscriptions, or dog-eared pages.

Overall, this is a beautiful collector’s example, housed in a custom made, red clamshell box with gold guilt lettering to the spine. Third printings remain highly sought after because they retain the same design, text setting, and production characteristics as the earlier print runs, at a more affordable price point.

Useful references:
– Bloomsbury Publishing official Harry Potter page
– Wikipedia: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (publication history)