Books

Without a doubt, this is the RAREST original UK Bloomsbury paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in existence. It is much scarcer than even the first five printings, which had very limited print runs. This sixth printing of the UK Bloomsbury paperback is so extraordinarily rare that many experts and collectors believe that this print run (similar to the hardback) may have been skipped by the publisher. Note: This is NOT the common Canadian sixth edition paperback, but an UNKNOWN genuine 1997 Bloomsbury edition printed by Clays in England, which appeared only a few months after the book's original release. This well-loved copy shows typical signs of wear: The film layer of the original wrapper is missing, with some creases on the front cover and wear to the lower spine. The spine also shows some fading. There is a closed tear on the half-title page, along with some foxing on the book edges and title pages. The margins of the pages are browned, as is typical with age. No names, marks, stamps, or other inscriptions. Like the first five editions, the copyright page text is printed on the top half of the page. In later editions, it was moved to the lower half. The reason why this sixth UK Bloomsbury print run barely made it to the market remains a mystery. It may be related to changes in the cover design: after the fifth printing, the Wendy Cooling quote at the bottom was replaced with one from the Sunday Telegraph. Most striking, however, is the use of PINK for the background of the lettering on the spine, especially noticeable at the bottom. It is possible that this design change was rejected by the publisher, and this print run was subsequently withdrawn from sale. A truly unique Harry Potter book.

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (titled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in the United States) is the first novel in the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. It introduces readers to Harry Potter, a young orphan living with his cruel aunt, uncle, and cousin, the Dursleys. On his eleventh birthday, Harry discovers that he is a wizard when a series of letters from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, despite the Dursleys' attempts to prevent him from learning about his true heritage. Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, arrives to inform Harry about his magical abilities and his invitation to attend Hogwarts. Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley, a hidden magical shopping district, to purchase school supplies. There, Harry learns about his parents' history in the wizarding world and acquires his school essentials, including a wand from Ollivanders, the wandmaker. At Hogwarts, Harry is sorted into Gryffindor House and becomes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He also learns about the sorcerer's stone, an object that can grant immortality and turn any metal into gold. Harry overhears discussions suggesting that someone intends to steal the stone, hidden within the school for protection. Throughout the school year, Harry and his friends navigate their classes, facing challenges and uncovering secrets. They suspect that Professor Snape, the Potions Master, is trying to steal the stone, believing he is after the school's Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover a three-headed dog named Fluffy guarding a trapdoor leading to the stone and suspect it's related to Snape's plan. With the help of their skills and courage, the trio bypasses various obstacles set up by the school's professors to protect the stone. In the final chambers, they confront Professor Quirrell, who has been possessed by Voldemort, the dark wizard responsible for the deaths of Harry's parents. Quirrell is seeking the stone for Voldemort, who wishes to regain a physical form by using the stone's powers. During the confrontation, Harry manages to prevent Quirrell/Voldemort from obtaining the stone, which leads to Voldemort's temporary defeat, causing Quirrell to disintegrate. Dumbledore, the headmaster, arrives and explains some details to Harry but leaves many questions unanswered. The school year ends, and Harry returns to the Dursleys for the summer, eager for the next year at Hogwarts and the adventures that await him. "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" introduces readers to the magical world of Hogwarts, sets the stage for Harry's journey, and lays the foundation for the overarching battle between good and evil that spans the entire series.