FIRST EDITION OF HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, INSCRIBED BY J.K. ROWLING

ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (London): Bloomsbury, (1998). Octavo, original pictorial paper boards, original dust jacket. $16,000.

First edition, first printing, of the second book in the phenomenally successful Harry Potter series, inscribed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page, "to Ben (again!) hope you like this as much—happy reading anyway! J.K. Rowling."

"A marriage of good writing, inventiveness and sheer child appeal that has not been seen since Roald Dahl, perhaps even since Tolkien, Lewis and Ransome," Rowling's extraordinarily popular series has become a classic praised by children, teachers and parents (The Times).When this, Rowling's second book, first saw print in 1998, "Bloomsbury was a little less cautious" than they had been when they published Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone the previous year, "but the first printing was still miniscule, considering the demand. Estimates range between 1000 and 2000 copies… They have been notably scarce" (Smiley, 52). Due to Rowling's decreasing number of personal appearances as the series continued, signed and inscribed copies of the Potter books are rare and desirable. First edition, first issue, with full number line, without "First Edition" on copyright page. With two rear leaves of publisher's advertisements. First-issue dust jacket price of £10.99, front flap containing: paragraph 5, lines 1-2, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" not italicized; paragraph 5, line 7, "Tom El-Shawk Age 11" with no comma after name, capital "A"; paragraph 6, line 1, "Harry Potter" not italicized; paragraph 6, line 7, "Katrina Farrant Age 10" with no comma after name, capital "A." The recipient of this copy was the son of an author/illustrator who apparently knew Rowling in the early stages of her career.

Book with tiny bump to foot of spine, dust jacket with mild toning to spine. A near-fine copy.