Good++ 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.
This eighth paperback printing was issued just a few months after the first and is among the rarest early softcover printings. The exact print run is unknown but was likely significantly smaller than that of the first edition. It was also one of only two printings to feature the original Smarties Book Prize Award sticker applied to the cover, before the design became integrated into the cover from the tenth printing onwards.
The laminate layer and the Smarties sticker are missing, leaving marks on the cover illustration, which also shows a few creases. The spine has a single reading crease but no fading. Inside, the book is in excellent condition, with tight binding, clean and bright pages, only light toning, and no inscriptions or names.
Due to the cover imperfections, this very rare and highly collectible copy is attractively priced.
