Bloomsbury published J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book in the United Kingdom.
Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on 26 June 1997. The book was edited by Barry Cunningham, who worked at Bloomsbury’s children’s division and supported publication after Rowling’s manuscript attracted interest.
The publisher initially printed a relatively modest first run, but demand grew rapidly as reviews and word of mouth spread. The success led to six further novels in Rowling’s original series and made Bloomsbury one of the most closely associated publishers in modern children’s literature.
Scholastic published the US edition. That distinction explains why the publisher name can differ depending on whether a source is discussing the British or American release.