A fine copy of an early UK Bloomsbury first edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with the number line 10 9 8 7.
This early printing predates the introduction of the Hogwarts shield on the half-title and title pages, a feature first added in the subsequent printing. It also retains the desirable first-state dust jacket, identifiable by the capitalised word "Age" in the concluding text on the front flap.
The pictorial boards are in exceptional fine condition, with bright colours, sharp corners, and crisp spine ends. The binding is firm and square. The endpapers are clean and free from names, inscriptions, stamps, or other markings, apart from a very light crease to the rear free endpaper.
The pages are fresh and bright, without the usual browning to the text block edges. The book appears unread.
The unclipped first-edition dust jacket is in near fine condition, showing only light edge wear and minor shelf wear, with very little fading to the spine. It is now protected in a removable Brodart archival cover.
An attractive early printing of the second Harry Potter novel, preserved in exceptionally well-kept condition.
