Books

London : Bloomsbury, 1997 [1998]. Printed and bound in Australia by Australian Print Group, Maryborough, Vic. First issue of the first Australian edition. Octavo, laminated boards (bump to head and foot of spine, slight wear to corners) in illustrated dust jacket (edge wear, a little crumpled at head and foot of spine, upper and lower edges, short splits to corners); pp. 223, the original juvenile owner's name and telephone number inscribed in yellow Texta to the front free endpaper, a small stain to lower free endpaper and pastedown, otherwise clean internally, a good copy of the rare first Australian edition. The true first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was printed in London on 30 June 1997, and would spawn a multi-billion dollar industry of publications, films and merchandise. 500 copies were published in hardback, of which 300 or so were distributed to UK schools, where they faced the usual school library treatment of stickers, lamination and sticky fingers. A trade paperback was issued in a few thousand copies the same year. In 1998 the first US edition appeared under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. While the colophon states a publication date for the Australian edition of 1997, there are two giveaways that this date is misleading. On the dustjacket is an advertisement to say the book won the Smarties Book Award of 1997 (which was awarded in November) and on the verso of the title page is the statement 'Also available : Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'. As Chamber was first published in the U.K. on 2nd July 1998, the Australian edition must be 1998 or even possibly early 1999. A good example of the first Australian edition of one of the icons of children's literature. Copies are increasingly scarce in the market.

"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.