HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN by Rowling, J.K - 1999

(London): Bloomsbury, 1999. Very good plus to near fine in fine jacket. Inscribed first Australian edition, formerly accepted as the third state of the first UK edition as described in Errington's bibliography, of the 3rd Harry Potter book, the first to feature Sirius Black and Remus Lupin as major characters. Rowling found her stride in this installment, generally cited as a fan favorite along with the following book, GOBLET OF FIRE. It won the Whitbread Children's Book Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Cliff Wright, the illustrator of AZKABAN and CHAMBER OF SECRETS, refused to design the cover of the 4th Harry Potter book after Bloomsbury lost his original art for this book. The Harry Potter series has been the biggest literary phenomenon of our lifetime. The books remain formative for millions, including the many readers who reject Rowling's transphobic statements. Due to the strength of the forgery market, Rowling signatures are justifiably suspect: inscribed copies, like this one, are therefore more desirable. This is an excellent example of her early signature. 7.5'' x 5''. Original glazed pictorial paper boards. In original unclipped (£10.99) color pictorial dust jacket with art by Cliff Wright. Errington's third state, more precisely described as the first Australian printing, including rear ad for Australian edition of PHILOSOPHER'S STONE and ad for CHAMBER OF SECRETS. 317, [5] pages. Inscribed by Rowling on dedication page: "To ___ / with best wishes / JK Rowling." Light cracking to rear hinge before endpaper, typical offsetting to endpapers, the inevitable uniform toning to text block, with a few faint spots. Jacket beautiful.