Bloomsbury published the original UK editions of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.
The London-based independent publisher acquired the manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997. Bloomsbury released the first UK edition on 26 June 1997, with a relatively small initial print run compared with the enormous sales that followed. The book’s success transformed both Rowling’s career and the publisher’s profile.
The American edition was published by Scholastic, which changed the first title to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That difference is a frequent source of confusion when readers identify the publisher or the book’s title. Bloomsbury retained the original Philosopher’s Stone wording in the United Kingdom and many other markets.
Bloomsbury continued as the UK publisher for the seven-book series. The books’ cover designs, editions, and translations varied internationally, but the publishing relationship remained a central part of the series’ original British history.