The points of issue
First US printing: full number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the copyright page AND the line 'Printed in the U.S.A. 23' with first printing 'October 1998.' The number line must end in 1.
Is this the true first?
The US 'Sorcerer's Stone' is a 'first thus' (first US edition / first American printing) — it is NOT the true world first, which is the UK 'Philosopher's Stone.' US first printings were a large run and are common compared with the UK hardback first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later US printings advance the number line (lowest digit > 1). Book-club editions and later printings drop the full 10–1 line; only the complete line ending in 1 marks the first US printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US printing: full number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the copyright page AND the line 'Printed in the U.S.A. 23' with first printing 'October 1998.' The number line must end in 1.
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. The US 'Sorcerer's Stone' is a 'first thus' (first US edition / first American printing) — it is NOT the true world first, which is the UK 'Philosopher's Stone.' US first printings were a large run and are common compared with the UK hardback first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later US printings advance the number line (lowest digit > 1). Book-club editions and later printings drop the full 10–1 line; only the complete line ending in 1 marks the first US printing.
I have a first edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone — 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.