Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London, 1997
First Edition, First Softcover Printing FIRST Bloomsbury edition, FIRST Softcover Printing in exceptional condition. Not bookclub, Not the Australian edition, Not the Ted Smart edition, Not the Canadian edition, Not ex-library, but the scarce true first edition, first printing near fine Bloomsbury edition with the complete number line of 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Wendy Cooling review is present to the base of the front board. The publisher page credits Joanne Rowling and contains no space between “r” and “1″ on Thomas Taylor 1997 in error; 1 Wand is listed twice on page 53, and the mis-print error to the rear panel of the soft wraps is shown as “Philosphers Stone”. Copies of this title unsigned, in similar condition are extremely scarce, with few even available for sale.
The stunning condition soft cover has strong unfaded colors with even the spine colors still being vibrant and withOUT any of common color fading to the spine. The binding is tight and square. The wraps are in great condition with some soft light creasing to the rear panel and only a very soft corner crease to the upper front panel. A few very tiny tip/edge rubs (hard to even see in the images) and no laminate issues,(which is unusual as most copies tend to have fully lifted or missing laminate). The interior pages are very clean, unusually bright and flat with only a hint of age toning. The pages have no handling marks, no writing, no marks, no stains and no foxing, no owners names and no inscriptions. A beautiful clean, bright copy with strongly colored outer wraps, EXTREMELY scarce in this condition! Please see images.
Please note hardcover examples of this book have been escalating in price, with a near fine first printing hardcover recently selling at auction for just shy of $470,000. And on the other end of the spectrum – very very poor condition softcovers with excessively worn, ripped, faded, tattered covers with missing laminate and having interior damage now sell for over $9,000. Those familiar with “card” or “comic book” grading would recognize this particular copy should list for many many multiples of a poor condition book. This book will ship using UPS Express with full signature tracking and insurance.
High resolution, large images available upon request.
