The points of issue
UK first (Bloomsbury, 21 July 2007). The copyright page must state 'First Edition' and show '2007'. A separate Bloomsbury deluxe edition (slipcased) is its own collectible state. Printed in an enormous simultaneous global run, so the standard first printing is abundant.
Is this the true first?
UK Bloomsbury is the true first; the US Scholastic edition was simultaneous (2007). The 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page is the reliable marker for the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings omit the 'First Edition' statement. Book-club / gift printings (for example a Ted Smart issue) and the slipcased deluxe are distinct from the standard trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK first (Bloomsbury, 21 July 2007). The copyright page must state 'First Edition' and show '2007'. A separate Bloomsbury deluxe edition (slipcased) is its own collectible state. Printed in an enormous simultaneous global run, so the standard first printing is abundant.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Bloomsbury is the true first; the US Scholastic edition was simultaneous (2007). The 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page is the reliable marker for the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings omit the 'First Edition' statement. Book-club / gift printings (for example a Ted Smart issue) and the slipcased deluxe are distinct from the standard trade first.
I have a first edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.