J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. London: Bloomsbury, 1997
8vo, FIRST EDITION, paperback issue ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on publisher's imprint page), INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, original pictorial paper wrappers after Thomas Taylor leaves slightly toned (as usual), minor creasing to spine and lower cover
A MAGICAL COPY, FRESH TO THE MARKET, OF THE BOOK THAT INTRODUCED ROWLING'S BOY WIZARD TO MUGGLE FANS THE WORLD OVER, WITH A DELIGHTFULLY PERSONAL PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION: "11-6-97 | To Martin & Nicole, | With lots of love | from Jo xx | (or, as you may henceforth call me, | J.K. Rowling. | Ms.)"
Rowling and Nicole knew each other from pre-Potter days teaching in Portugal, and stayed in touch after they both moved back to the UK. Hence it is appropriate that the book is signed twice: first in the capacity of a friend, then—in a rather tongue-in-cheek way—under the identity of "J.K. Rowling", the pen name famously adopted at the behest of the publishers. At this point in time, the role of professional author must have felt very unfamiliar to Rowling. 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.
This paperback issue of 5,150 copies was released simultaneously with the 500 hardback copies, both of which are confirmed by Bloomsbury to have been published on 26 June 1997. Rowling does appear to have received several copies before the publication date, but copies inscribed pre-publication are exceedingly rare at auction. The copy that Rowling gave to her father and stepmother also contains an inscription dated 11 June 1997, so the present copy must contain one of the very earliest inscriptions in existence.
It is very unusual to find a copy like this, with the combination of continuous ownership by a named dedicatee stretching from pre-publication to the present day, an insightful and deeply personal early inscription, and very good overall condition.
PROVENANCE:Inscribed by the author to the present owner on 11 June 1997
LITERATURE:Errington, Rowling A1(aa); cf. Sotheby's 12 December 2008, lot 178 (copy with a later pre-publication inscription, dated 25 June 1997).
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. London: Bloomsbury, 1997
8vo, FIRST EDITION, paperback issue ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on publisher's imprint page), INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, original pictorial paper wrappers after Thomas Taylor leaves slightly toned (as usual), minor creasing to spine and lower cover
A MAGICAL COPY, FRESH TO THE MARKET, OF THE BOOK THAT INTRODUCED ROWLING'S BOY WIZARD TO MUGGLE FANS THE WORLD OVER, WITH A DELIGHTFULLY PERSONAL PRE-PUBLICATION INSCRIPTION: "11-6-97 | To Martin & Nicole, | With lots of love | from Jo xx | (or, as you may henceforth call me, | J.K. Rowling. | Ms.)"
Rowling and Nicole knew each other from pre-Potter days teaching in Portugal, and stayed in touch after they both moved back to the UK. Hence it is appropriate that the book is signed twice: first in the capacity of a friend, then—in a rather tongue-in-cheek way—under the identity of "J.K. Rowling", the pen name famously adopted at the behest of the publishers. At this point in time, the role of professional author must have felt very unfamiliar to Rowling. 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.
This paperback issue of 5,150 copies was released simultaneously with the 500 hardback copies, both of which are confirmed by Bloomsbury to have been published on 26 June 1997. Rowling does appear to have received several copies before the publication date, but copies inscribed pre-publication are exceedingly rare at auction. The copy that Rowling gave to her father and stepmother also contains an inscription dated 11 June 1997, so the present copy must contain one of the very earliest inscriptions in existence.
It is very unusual to find a copy like this, with the combination of continuous ownership by a named dedicatee stretching from pre-publication to the present day, an insightful and deeply personal early inscription, and very good overall condition.
PROVENANCE:Inscribed by the author to the present owner on 11 June 1997
LITERATURE:Errington, Rowling A1(aa); cf. Sotheby's 12 December 2008, lot 178 (copy with a later pre-publication inscription, dated 25 June 1997).
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