Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London, 1997
First Edition, First Softcover Printing FIRST Bloomsbury edition, FIRST Softcover Printing in exceptional condition. Accompanied by a laid-in note SIGNED AND INSCRIBED by J.K. Rowling. The note is accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from a premier authentication house, James Spence, LLC. 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. This copy will be accompanied by a laid-in note Signed and Inscribed by J.K. Rowling, completed in an early signature “To Calvin / Merry Christmas! / J.K. Rowling”. The note with will include a Letter of Authenticity by James Spence, LLC.
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 superb condition with but a few very soft flat creases (along spine, and one to rear), and a very soft flat corner crease to the upper front panel (all of which are quite hard to see). 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.
The J.K. Rowling inscribed and signed note completed in an early signature will be accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity by James Spence, LLC. The inscription reads: “To Calvin / Merry Christmas /J.K. Rowling”
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 poor condition shabby hard covers selling over $28,000. 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 $8,000. Those familiar with “card” or “comic book” grading would recognize that small increments in condition represent large increments in value/price.
This book will ship using UPS Express with full signature tracking and insurance.
High resolution, large images available upon request.
