Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by Rowling, J. K - 1997

London: Bloomsbury, 1997 First edition, twenty-third printing, paperback issue. Signed and inscribed by Rowling to the dedication paper: "To Lewis/ with best wishes/ J. K. Rowling. Original publisher's pictorial paperwraps by Thomas Taylor of Harry and the Hogwarts Express to front board and of a wizard with brown hair to rear cover. A fine copy with a trace of wear to the corners, 1997 Gold Award Winner gold sticker to front the cover and a small former owner sticker to the front inside cover. First published in 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first book in the Harry Potter heptalogy. It introduces both Harry and readers alike to the secret, magical world of witches and wizards in Great Britain. It also sets the stage for the six subsequent novels by familiarizing readers with the villainous Lord Voldemort and how his and Harry's fates are inevitably intertwined. Although often regarded as a children's novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone topped adult reading charts in the UK, and in the United States, where it was published under the alternate title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Notably, the first printing of this book in hardcover format is exceedingly rare; only 500 copies were printed, of which about half ended up in libraries. Despite its small print run, the book was an immediate success, and went through dozens of print runs within the first few years after publication.. Signed. First Edition. Original Wraps. Fine. Illus. by Taylor, Thomas.