Rowling, J.K. (1997 & 1998) ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, UK signed first editio, fourth print, and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’, UK signed first edition seventh print box set

Joanne (Kathleen) Rowling, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone‘ (1997), UK first edition, fourth printing, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), UK first edition, seventh printing. Both books published by Bloomsbury in the first issued box set. Both volumes are signed by author J.K. Rowling on the dedication page as shown. According to Philip Errington’s ‘J.K. Rowling: A Bibliogarphy’ (2017), the first Philosopher’ printing had a print run of only 500 copies; the second printing followed quickly with a run of 1,000 copies, followed by the third and fourth printing of 500 copies each only (p.4).

Provenance: The signatures are consistant with how Rowling used to sign in 1998-99. The previous owner atteded a Waterstones Nottingham signing in 1998 as part of a school trip.

Condition: ‘Philosopher’ is in very good condition. It bears no previous owner’s scribbles, no stamps, no bookplates, pages are clean. The boards’ corners are a little pushed and there is a bump on the front bottom edge as shown. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and a beautiful specimen, unfaded and showing the young wizard as called for. ‘Chamber of Secrets’ is visibly unread in outstanding like new condition with no issues whatsoever. The box is in near fine condition with just a hint of shelf wear.

This was the first box set that Bloomsbury published for the Harry Potter Saga. As more and more Potters were published until 2007 the publisher – eager to capitalise on Potter-mania – isuued a new box set containing the latest book together with the volumes that had already been published.

A nice set at fair value and genuinely signed by Rowling. Due to the extremely high value of signed UK first hardback first printings editions of ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’, the early reprints have also become very collectable and valuable.