Which Harry Potter book was the first to use J.K. Rowling’s initials on its cover?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was the first book to use J.K. Rowling’s initials on its cover.

Bloomsbury published the book in Britain in 1997 under the name J.K. Rowling. Rowling’s original name was Joanne Rowling, but the publisher wanted a name that did not make the author’s gender immediately obvious. She selected J.K., with the K standing for Kathleen, her paternal grandmother’s name.

The initials were used from the beginning of the series, rather than introduced after the books became famous. This matters because Rowling is often described as having adopted “J.K. Rowling” later in her career, when in fact the first Harry Potter edition already carried that author name.

The North American edition used the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and also credited J.K. Rowling. Later books retained the initials, making them one of the most recognizable author brands in modern children’s publishing.