First edition, first printing of the Deluxe edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, signed by J.K. Rowling on the half-title page in black ink.
The book was signed in October 2000 for a U.S.-based rare book dealer at a private event. It was subsequently purchased on 8 June 2001 by the previous owner, who carefully preserved the book for nearly twenty-five years before parting with it.
The Deluxe edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban represents the first collector's edition issued in the Harry Potter series. It was published simultaneously with the trade edition on 8 July 1999 in a very limited print run. The first printing of this title is generally regarded as the scarcest of the Deluxe series. The exact print run is unknown, but it is commonly estimated to have been fewer than 2,000 copies. Because of the very small print run, authentically signed copies of the Deluxe first edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban are extremely scarce.
On 27 September 1999, the first printings of the Deluxe editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets followed, issued in editions of 4,869 and 7,500 copies respectively (Errington, p. 15).
An unread, fine copy. The green cloth binding is clean and unmarked, and the spine ends and corners remain sharp. The endpapers are clean, and the pages show only the mild toning typically found in this edition. The binding is excellent and sound. The yellow ribbon marker is untouched and retains its original position. The gilt page edges are almost entirely free from marks.
A very attractive copy of an exceptionally scarce signed collector’s edition, presented in a custom-made half-leather clamshell box.
The book is accompanied by the original dealer's letter to the subsequent buyer, as well as a Letter of Authenticity (LoA) from Adam Houston (TheHarryPotterSpecialist), the world's sole expert on J.K. Rowling?s signature.
