Bloomsbury first published J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books in the United Kingdom.
Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on 26 June 1997. The London-based publisher acquired the manuscript after Barry Cunningham, then an editor at Bloomsbury, recognized its potential. The initial print run was modest compared with the enormous sales that followed.
The book’s success grew through strong word of mouth, bookseller enthusiasm, prizes, and international rights sales. Scholastic published the series in the United States, where the first book was retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That difference can make publisher details seem inconsistent when comparing British and American editions.
Bloomsbury continued publishing Rowling’s Harry Potter novels in Britain. The publisher’s early decision helped bring the series to readers before it became a worldwide publishing phenomenon and a major film franchise.