J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter debut was first published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, beginning one of the most commercially successful children’s book series in publishing history.
The first edition was a modest beginning compared with the scale of the later phenomenon. The book was marketed as children’s fantasy, but its readership soon expanded across age groups. Its success led to six sequels, international editions, translations, audiobooks, and screen adaptations.
The date is sometimes confused with 31 July, which is Rowling’s birthday and Harry Potter’s fictional birthday. It is also distinct from the American publication date, when the book appeared under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The British first-edition date remains 26 June 1997.