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Rowling, J. K.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Publisher: Bloomsbury, London;
Date of Publication: 1997
Stock Code: 14547
FIRST EDITION, 3rd Impression (with number string 10-3 to verso of the title-page). Octavo, pp., 223,[1]. Paper covered pictorial boards by Thomas Taylor with Harry and the Hogwarts Express to upper board and wizard to lower, in matching pictorial dust-jacket. Minor bruising to head and tail of spine, the price-clipped dust-jacket is spine faded with minor water-stain to verso. A near fine book in a very good dust-jacket. The third impression of the sought-after First Edition of the first Harry Potter story, and the very first to be printed with a dust-jacket (the first and second impressions were both printed without jackets as many were destined for the library service who did not require them). In his bibliography Philip Errington notes that “A report compiled by the printers Clays Ltd, notes that the initial print run (of the hardcover first edition of 500 copies) was ‘followed quickly by a reprint of 1,000 copies and three reprints of 500 copies”. As called for the lower cover of the third impression dust-jacket is purple in hue (as opposed to the blue of the boards), an error that was corrected in later impressions of the jacket. Necessarily rare. £2250.00