Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)

The first Bloomsbury paperback of Prisoner of Azkaban was published in 1999 under the ISBN 0 7475 4629 0. It is a first paperback edition rather than a first edition, so it is worth far less than the hardback, but early printings in fine condition are still sought after.

Start with the copyright page. On every Bloomsbury title of this period, a first impression shows a number line that ends in 1, and the line loses a number with each reprint. If the lowest number is 2 or higher, the book is a later printing.

We have not yet confirmed whether the first paperback printing shares either of the hardback's first-state points: the Joanne Rowling copyright credit or the misplaced text on page 7. If your copy has either, note it when you add it to your collection, because it would make the copy more interesting.

Check the ISBN too. Bloomsbury issued other paperbacks of this title, including later adult-cover editions, under different numbers, and the cover alone is not a reliable guide.

Condition is everything with these paperbacks. Most were read hard, so a copy with a flat, uncreased spine and sharp corners stands out.

Format, date and ISBN come from Open Library's edition records.