# Is "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J. K. Rowling a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (Bloomsbury, 2003) is identified by: UK first (Bloomsbury, 21 June 2003). UK Bloomsbury is the true first; the US Scholastic edition followed in 2003.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK first (Bloomsbury, 21 June 2003)
- The copyright page must state 'First Edition' (the last four titles in the series carry this wording)
- Earliest copies are noted for printer's errors on the opening page not present in later runs, notably 'bo' for 'boy' and a poorly printed 'scuffiness'/'scruffiness'
- The copyright page shows 'Bloomsbury' and '2003'
- Printed in very large quantities, so first printings are common
- Publisher imprint reads Bloomsbury
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | J. K. Rowling |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | UK first (Bloomsbury, 21 June 2003) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
UK first (Bloomsbury, 21 June 2003). The copyright page must state 'First Edition' (the last four titles in the series carry this wording). Earliest copies are noted for printer's errors on the opening page not present in later runs, notably 'bo' for 'boy' and a poorly printed 'scuffiness'/'scruffiness'. The copyright page shows 'Bloomsbury' and '2003'. Printed in very large quantities, so first printings are common.

## Is this the true first?
UK Bloomsbury is the true first; the US Scholastic edition followed in 2003. The 'First Edition' statement plus the early-run page-one typos are the reliable markers.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings correct the opening-page typos and drop the 'First Edition' statement. Book-club / gift printings (for example a Ted Smart issue) are not the trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* by J. K. Rowling a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.