Which British publisher released J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books?

Bloomsbury released J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books in Britain. The London-based independent publisher published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997 and continued with the rest of the UK series.

Bloomsbury acquired the manuscript after Barry Cunningham, then an editor at the company, recognized its potential. The early print run was modest by the standards of the global success that followed, but strong reader response helped the series grow rapidly.

Scholastic published the books in the United States, using the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the first volume. This difference means Bloomsbury is the British publisher, while Scholastic is the principal US publisher. The two companies used different cover designs and some localized wording.