German Edition

The first German edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen) was published by Carlsen Verlag on 21 July 1998, making it the second authorized translation after the Italian edition. The hardcover first print run was confirmed by the publisher at 6,000 copies, reflecting strong confidence in the title. Several hardcover reprints followed before paperback editions were introduced to reach a broader audience. The second printing came out a month later on 21 August 1998 (8,000 copies), the third printing on 23 September 1998 (10,000 copies), the fourth printing on 15 January 1999 (8,000 copies) and the fifth printing on 5 August 1999 (10,000 copies).

Translated by Klaus Fritz, whose skillful adaptation set the tone for the entire German series, the edition features distinctive cover artwork by Sabine Wilharm that remains iconic among collectors.

Bookseller Editions

During my collecting journey, I uncovered a rare variant of this first German edition—a bookseller’s review copy. Marked on the half-title page with the text “Unverkäufliches Leseexemplar, Erscheinungstermin: 24.8.1998” (“Not for sale review copy, publication date: 24.8.1998”), this review copy was printed separately to the 6,000 copies printed for the first printing in an edition of only 2,000 copies—confirmed for me by the publisher. As far as I know this booksellers edition was completely unheard in the collecting community prior to this finding.

Carlsen Verlag also issued special bookseller’s editions for the later German Harry Potter titles—books 5 (Harry Potter und der Orden des Phönix), 6 (Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz), and 7 (Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes). Books 5 and 7 were released with a brown paper cover design to create excitement for fans without revealing the cover artwork. Exact figures of the print runs for these books is unconfirmed, however, the publisher has said that as a rule 2,000-3,000 copies were always printed.

Notably, Carlsen involved the German Harry Potter fan community in selecting these later cover designs. Through public online voting, fans chose from multiple proposed covers, an innovative approach that generated excitement and ensured the final designs resonated deeply with readers. The alternative dust jackets for Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows were released and these are scarce to find, although the cover for Half-Blood Prince seems to be much more common in commerce. The winning covers were then used for the trade editions. The alternative dust jacket for Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes was released separately and is extremely rare, it’s believed that only around 100 copies of this jacket exist, although that is unconfirmed.

J.K. Rowling’s Signing Events in Germany

Germany holds a unique place in Harry Potter history as the only non-English-speaking country that J.K. Rowling personally visited to conduct scheduled signing events. This highlights the significance of the German market and the enthusiasm of German fans.

Rowling’s signing tours took place at several iconic locations across Germany, including:

• Munich (1999): Her first official signing event coincided with the release of the German Philosopher’s Stone edition, drawing large crowds of eager fans.

• Berlin (1999): Hosting a major signing event, Berlin became a central hub for Potter fandom in Germany.

• Frankfurt Book Fair (multiple years): Rowling made special appearances during the world’s largest book fair, further cementing her connection with German readers and the publishing industry.

These events were meticulously scheduled and heavily promoted, allowing German fans direct access to the author, a rarity for translated works. The personal nature of these appearances added immense value and excitement for collectors of signed German editions, making them some of the most prized and memorable Harry Potter collectibles in the non-English speaking world.