A magical journey to celebrate 25 years of one of the world’s greatest children’s books … J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Today Bloomsbury announces its publishing plans for the 25th anniversary of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – a year-long campaign celebrating 25 years of Harry Potter magic. From the idea born by J.K. Rowling on a train journey in 1990, with an initial hardback print run of just 500 copies, the series has gone on to sell over 500 million books worldwide in over 80 languages, inspiring a major movie franchise, a spellbinding theatre production and so much more. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the unforgettable first novel that set Harry Potter’s destiny in motion. This magical story has been inspiring new generations of readers ever since its publication in June 1997 – an unprecedented publishing phenomenon beloved by fans all over the world.
In January 2022, a silver anniversary makeover will kick-start a huge campaign. The classic paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, illustrated by Jonny Duddle, will be updated for the anniversary year and emblazoned with an eye-catching silver foil livery. Publication will be supported by a jam-packed anniversary campaign, focusing on children and new readers, including the biggest and best Harry Potter Book Night celebrations yet in February 2022 (with Magical Journeys as its theme) as well as promotions around World Book Day in March; extensive partnerships, digital advertising and online and social cross promotion; glorious POS, bespoke in-store opportunities and digital assets that will ensure that Harry is impossible to miss!
Celebrations continue into the summer with the publication in June of a stunning commemorative hardback edition of J.K. Rowling’s first novel featuring the original cover design from 1997 and artwork by Thomas Taylor. Including exclusive new bonus material, this promises to be a gorgeous and very special souvenir for any Potter collection. As well as a large-scale must-see outdoor installation, Bloomsbury will also be working closely with fans from around the world to generate content for a spellbinding celebratory video and social media campaign. Anniversary celebrations will continue through to Harry Potter’s birthday at the end of July and Back to Hogwarts at the start of September.
February 2022 will also see the launch of new Hogwarts House Editions Box Sets – four stunning, house-themed packages featuring the entire Harry Potter series in paperback with dazzling covers and illustrations from Kate Greenaway Medal winner Levi Pinfold. Then in March 2022, Bloomsbury will publish a paperback edition of Chris Riddell’s illustrated The Tales of Beedle the Bard, featuring a sumptuous new cover and an exclusive art print of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
And there’s more to come in autumn 2022 with further magical Harry Potter publishing, marketing and publicity adventures to be announced.
NOTES TO EDITORS: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone • January 2022 • £7.99 • 9781408855652 • Paperback Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: The Thomas Taylor Edition • June 2022 • 9781526646651 • £16.99 • Hardback with dust jacket Gryffindor House Edition Paperback Box Set • February 2022 • 9781526624512 • £80.00 Hufflepuff House Edition Paperback Box Set • February 2022 • 9781526624550 • £80.00 Slytherin House Edition Paperback Box Set • February 2022 • 9781526624574 • £80.00 Ravenclaw House Edition Paperback Box Set • February 2022 • 9781526624536 • £80.00 The Tales of Beedle the Bard • Illustrated by Chris Riddell • March 2022 • 9781526637895 • £12.99 • Paperback
J.K. Rowling is the author of the seven Harry Potter books, which have sold over 500 million copies, been translated into over 80 languages, and made into eight blockbuster films. She has also written three short companion volumes for charity, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which later became the inspiration for a new series of films, also written by J.K. Rowling.
She then continued Harry’s story as a grown-up in a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which she wrote with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany.
In 2020, J.K. Rowling returned to publishing for younger children, with the fairy tale The Ickabog, the royalties from which she is donating to her charitable trust Volant to help vulnerable groups affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Autumn 2021 sees the publication of The Christmas Pig, J.K. Rowling’s first children’s novel since Harry Potter,
J.K. Rowling has received many awards and honours for her writing. She also supports a number of causes through her charitable trust Volant and is the founder of the children’s charity Lumos.
For as long as she can remember, J.K. Rowling has wanted to be a writer, and is at her happiest in a room, making things up. She lives in Scotland with her family.
Bloomsbury is a leading independent publishing house. The children’s division publishes books for children and young adults in print, eBook and audio. It publishes across preschool, picture books, fiction and non-fiction. Its award-winning, diverse list includes authors such as J.K. Rowling, Benjamin Zephaniah, Katherine Rundell, Neil Gaiman, Renée Watson and Sarah J. Maas, and illustrators such as Chris Riddell, Emily Gravett, Rikin Parekh, Kate Pankhurst, Jim Kay and Tom Percival. For more information go to www.bloomsbury.com