Near fine copy of the very scarce eighth UK Bloomsbury softcover printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Number line 10 9 8; Sunday Telegraph review quote on the front cover; copyright page credits Joanne Rowling with no space between Thomas Taylor and the year.
The eighth paperback printing was issued only a few months after the first and is among the scarcest early softcover printings. The exact print run is unknown, but it was likely significantly smaller than that of the first. It was also one of only two printings to feature the original Smarties Book Prize Award sticker applied to the cover, before the sticker design became integrated into the cover from the tenth printing onwards.
The cover is in near fine condition. The spine shows a single reading crease and very slight fading; the corner tips are just lightly pushed, with minimal shelfwear overall. Tight binding and notably clean, bright pages with only light toning and no inscriptions or names. A rare and highly collectible example, especially in this condition.
