Bloomsbury was the London publishing house that first published J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels.
Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. The publisher acquired the manuscript after Rowling’s agent submitted it, and the book initially appeared with a first print run of only 500 copies. Its popularity grew rapidly through word of mouth, reviews, awards and strong bookseller support.
Bloomsbury continued publishing the remaining six main Harry Potter novels in the United Kingdom. The series became a major part of the company’s identity and helped transform the financial fortunes of the independent publisher. Scholastic held the American publishing rights, while other publishers released editions in different territories.
A common mix-up is identifying Warner Bros. as the original publisher. Warner Bros. made the film adaptations, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001, but Bloomsbury published the books. The distinction separates Rowling’s original literary launch from the later film franchise.