Which publisher first accepted J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript?

Bloomsbury was the first publisher to accept J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript.

The London-based independent publisher acquired Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone after Rowling’s manuscript had been rejected by several publishers. Bloomsbury released the book in the United Kingdom in 1997, launching one of the most successful literary franchises in publishing history.

Barry Cunningham, then an editor at Bloomsbury, played an important role in acquiring the novel. The company initially expected the book to appeal mainly to children, but its readership quickly expanded across age groups. The British edition used the title Philosopher’s Stone, while the United States edition changed “Philosopher” to “Sorcerer’s.”

Scholastic became the major American publisher of the series, which explains why readers sometimes name Scholastic when asked about Harry Potter’s publisher. Bloomsbury, however, was the original UK publisher that accepted and issued Rowling’s debut novel.