J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is one of those books where the phrase "first edition" gets used a little too casually. For collectors, the real question is usually narrower: is it a first American edition, first printing, in the correct first-state dust jacket?
That distinction matters. Plenty of copies say "First American edition" on the copyright page, but only the earliest copies have the full set of points collectors are usually looking for.
Start with the copyright page
The first American edition was published by Scholastic Press in 1998. The copyright page should state "First American edition, October 1998." That line is important, but it is not enough by itself.
For the first printing, look for a full number line that begins with 1. The line should read:
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Under that, first-printing copies also show the U.S. printing statement ending in 23. The key habit here is simple: do not stop when you see "First American edition." Check the number line and the printing statement.
Check the binding
The binding is a useful second checkpoint. The correct trade first American edition has purple boards with an embossed diamond pattern and a red cloth spine. That diamond pattern is worth noticing because book club copies can cause confusion. Some book club copies have similar copyright-page information, but the boards are plain rather than diamond-patterned.
That is one reason I like to identify these in layers: copyright page first, binding second, jacket third. Any one point by itself can mislead you.
Then examine the dust jacket
The dust jacket is where a lot of value lives, so it deserves its own look. A first-state jacket should have the original $16.95 price on the front flap, with a 51695 barcode on the rear panel.
On the back of the jacket, the earliest state has a single review quotation from The Guardian. Later jackets add other review material, including Publishers Weekly. On the jacket spine, look for J.K. Rowling's name and no "Year 1" badge. The title lettering is also the raised gold style associated with the first-state jacket.
As with many modern first editions, the book and jacket should be evaluated together. A correct first-printing book in a later jacket is still collectible, but it is not the same thing as a complete first-printing copy in the correct first-state jacket. Conversely, a first-state jacket married to a later book should be described carefully.
What "First American edition" does and does not mean
The American first is not the same as the far rarer British first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It is its own collecting category, and a very strong one, but the identification points are different.
For the U.S. book, the biggest source of confusion is that later printings can still carry the "First American edition" statement. That statement identifies the edition. The number line identifies the printing.
Condition matters
Condition makes a large difference. The dust jacket should be checked for fading, edge wear, closed tears, creases, and price clipping. The book itself should be checked for bumped corners, cocked spine, loose hinges, owner names, remainder marks, and staining.
A very sharp copy with the correct jacket is a different object from a tired copy with the right number line. Both may be worth describing, but they should not be priced or presented as though they are equivalent.
Quick checklist
- Scholastic Press, 1998
- Copyright page states "First American edition, October 1998"
- Full number line begins with 1
- U.S. printing statement ends in 23
- Purple boards with embossed diamond pattern
- Red cloth spine
- Dust jacket priced $16.95
- Rear barcode includes 51695
- Back jacket has the early single Guardian review quotation
- No "Year 1" badge on the jacket spine
If your copy has some of these points but not all of them, it may still be an early and desirable copy. The useful question is not simply "is it a first edition?" but "which printing, which binding, and which jacket state?" That is the difference between a casual listing and a proper rare book description.
Bibliographical reference: Philip W. Errington, J.K. Rowling: A Bibliography 1997-2013, A4(a). Identification references consulted include FEdPo and Sotheby's. Binding image: © BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons, used under CC BY-SA 3.0; source image. Dust-jacket image supplied for this guide.
Kevin Sell, The Rare Book Sleuth, ABAA / ILAB