J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel was published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997.
Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in Britain, beginning a seven-book fantasy series about Harry Potter, a boy who discovers that he is a wizard. The first edition had a relatively small print run compared with the enormous sales that followed.
The book was published in the United States in 1998 under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The change from “Philosopher’s Stone” to “Sorcerer’s Stone” is a common source of confusion, but the British publication date remains 26 June 1997.
The novel quickly attracted critical attention and children’s-book awards. Its success led to international editions, translations, audiobooks, films, and a much larger publishing phenomenon.