A near-fine copy of the scarce first UK edition, fourth Bloomsbury hardback printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4.
According to Errington (p. 4), the fourth printing comprised just 500 hardback copies. The copyright page retains the original Joanne Rowling attribution and the early typographical point of no space between Thomas Taylor and the year 1997.
This early printing features the original illustration of the brown-haired young wizard on the rear cover and spine, later replaced by an illustration of Dumbledore. The Hogwarts crest is also absent from the title and half-title pages, having been introduced in subsequent printings after the fifth hardback printing.
The first and second hardback printings were issued without dust jackets, making the fourth printing only the second to be supplied with one.
A well-preserved, apparently unread copy. The pictorial boards are virtually flawless, with vibrant colours, sharp corners and pristine spine ends. The binding is firm and tight. Internally immaculate, with clean endpapers, no inscriptions, marks or stamps, and remarkably bright pages showing none of the usual edge browning. A few spots on the fore edge prevent the book from being graded fine.
The original first-edition dust jacket is in fine condition, unclipped and exceptionally fresh, with vibrant colours, no discernible wear and a no fading. Now protected by a removable Brodart archival cover.
An outstanding example of this scarce early hardback printing, particularly desirable in such exceptional, apparently unread condition.
