What is the British publishing date of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel?

J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel was published in Britain on 26 June 1997.

Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom on that date. The book introduced Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the central conflict with Lord Voldemort. Its first edition was relatively small compared with the huge print runs that followed.

The date is sometimes confused with the American publication date. Scholastic published the book in the United States in September 1998, using the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The British edition therefore appeared more than a year before the American edition.

The novel quickly attracted strong reviews and awards, then grew through word of mouth. Its success led to six sequels, film adaptations, translations, merchandise, and a major expansion of the fictional Wizarding World.