Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom in 1997. The first edition was published on 26 June 1997, launching Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potter series.
Bloomsbury editor Barry Cunningham acquired the manuscript after Rowling submitted it through literary agent Christopher Little. The book’s early print run was modest, but word of mouth and strong reviews quickly expanded its audience.
In the United States, Scholastic published the novel in 1998 under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. “Philosopher’s Stone” remains the original British title, while “Sorcerer’s Stone” is the American title for the same story.
Bloomsbury continues to publish Rowling’s Harry Potter books in the UK, making it distinct from Scholastic’s American publishing role.