What title was used for the first Harry Potter novel in the United Kingdom?

The first Harry Potter novel was titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom.

Bloomsbury published the novel in Britain on 26 June 1997. It introduces Harry Potter as an orphan living with the Dursleys before he discovers that he is a wizard and begins studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

For the United States edition, Scholastic changed the title to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The change was made because the publisher believed “sorcerer” would be more immediately understandable or appealing to American readers. The story is otherwise substantially the same, although some wording was also adapted between British and American editions.

The title difference often creates confusion in quizzes and bibliographies. “Philosopher’s Stone” is the original British title, while “Sorcerer’s Stone” identifies the American edition of the same first novel.