Harry Potter: A Publishing History
By Faith McKay
July 31st, 1965 Joanne Rowling is born. (this date later becomes Harry’s birthday, as well).
1990 Rowling gets the idea for Harry Potter and begins writing his story.
1995 Rowling finishes her first book: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. After this five year stretch of effort, her literary agent warns her,"You do realize, you will never make a fortune out of writing children's books?"
1996 Several publishers reject the book. October: British publisher Bloomsbury Press accepts the book and gives Rowling a $4,000 advance.
1997 Scholastic wins the U.S rights to the series and gives Rowling a $100,000 advance. Rowling devotes her time to writing full time. June 26thHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is published in the UK with a first print run of 500 copies. The book is a success right away, winning several awards.
July 2nd, 1998 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published in the UK, with a first print run of over 10,000 copies. September 1st 1998 Scholastic publishes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US with a first print run of 50,000 copies. Beyond title changes, Scholastic also added illustrations to the start of each chapter, and British spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary are translated into American English.
June 2, 1999 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published in the US with a first printing of 250,000 copies. It heads straight for the top of the bestsellers list. July 8: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is published in the United Kingdom. September 8: The third book is published in the US with a first run of 500,000 copies.
July 8 2000 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is published in the UK and the US with a combined first run of five MILLION copies.
March 12, 2001 Two School Books from the Harry Potter series are published with the profits going to Comic Relief (a British charity). The titles include Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages.
June 21, 2003 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is released with a first printing of 6.4 million copies-just in the US.
July 16, 2005 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is released with a first run of 10.8 million copies. February 1, 2006 The publication date for the final Harry Potter novel is released! July 21, 2007 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series is released worldwide.
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