Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 25th Anniversary Edition: J.K. Rowling -25th Ann. Ed.- (Harry Potter, 1)

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It is rumoured Robin Williams was initially keen on the role of the lovable gamekeeper and Haley Joel Osment, of The Sixth Sense fame, was considered to play Harry, but Rowling intervened and insisted on an all-British cast, a role that eventually went to Daniel Radcliffe. The Harry Potter series has been responsible for inspiring and engaging young readers here and around the world for twenty-five years,” says President of Scholastic Trade, Ellie Berger. From midnight parties to Muggle Walls, we’ve seen firsthand the excitement and the power of J.K. Rowling’s brilliant storytelling, with themes of friendship and family, all still relevant today. Here’s to the next twenty-five years of reading magic!” Galloping gargoyles … 2022 is the silver anniversary of J.K. Rowling’s magical classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone! In celebration of 25 years of Harry Potter magic, Bloomsbury is proud to be releasing a special commemorative edition featuring the much loved original cover design, with artwork by Thomas Taylor. Thomas Taylor’s original 1997 cover, and, below, some of the many editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In the early days, after I finished working on it, I would take the script to a safety deposit box at Coutts bank. Eventually, Bloomsbury bought me the biggest safe that Banham could supply. It was so heavy we needed extra floor support upstairs, but at least I could go out.

Newton: The next day I chaired the editorial meeting and everyone was humming with excitement. We only had a tiny children’s team. Four people. They all sat on beanbags in one room on the fifth floor. Barry asked for authorisation to buy the rights and I said something like: “Alice absolutely loved it – approved!” Everybody else felt the same way. So he offered for UK and Commonwealth rights. He didn’t offer for US rights because in those days we didn’t have a US company. I learned that lesson – one year later, I started Bloomsbury USA. To help their young new recruit with his cover, Bloomsbury sent Taylor a printout of the manuscript to read, complete with scribbled editors’ notes and underlines. He read it on the train, becoming one of the first people in the world to come across words such as “Quidditch”, “Hogwarts” and “Gryffindor”, and to meet the boy whose image he would be bringing to life. The cover, designed by Thomas Taylor, for the 25th anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone If you’re wondering why Taylor had to keep working in a bookshop after designing the cover of a multi-million-selling book, it’s because the job “was pretty poorly paid initially”. The contract was later re-drawn so he got a bit more money, “but it doesn’t really generate income”, he says. He doesn’t get royalties? “No, the contract licenses it for a one-off fee… But I can’t complain,” he adds brightly. “You don’t normally make money out of a book cover.” Harry’s best friend, Ron Weasley, was played by flame-haired actor Rupert Grint, who secured his part by recording a self-penned rap about his suitability for the role. With these anniversary editions and the long-awaited release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, 2022 is set to be an exciting year for Potterfans, and there is more yet to come.There are currently no plans for J.K. Rowling to sign copies of the book. For more details of events happening to celebrate the 25th anniversary, please sign up to our newsletter, where we will announce news as and when details are confirmed. Harry and Hagrid in an illustration from a 2015 edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by Jim Kay. After its first publication in 1997, the illustration of Harry Potter with his lightning bolt scar, standing next to the Hogwarts Express on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, would go on to become one of the most iconic book covers of the twentieth century, offering a tantalising first glimpse of J.K. Rowling’s endlessly spellbinding wizarding world.

Original front cover from the very first 1997 edition, illustrated by Thomas Taylor – one of the most iconic book covers of the twentieth century From his pen, a boy with scruffy hair, a cheeky smirk and a lightning bolt scar is emerging. “I don’t want to end my days only being known as someone who did the cover art for Harry Potter.” Galloping gargoyles! 2022 is the silver anniversary of J.K. Rowling's magical classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ! A glorious silver anniversary edition of J.K. Rowling's classic first story, featuring the original 1997 front cover illustration by Thomas Taylor and exciting bonus material to celebrate 25 years of Harry Potter magic

20th Anniversary House Editions

I would love to pass on the love of books to another generation,” he says. “It took me a long time to discover the joy of reading, and to realise it’s not a chore… I think JK Rowling did that with the Harry Potter books.”