The First Icelandic Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The first Icelandic edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is one of the most iconic and desirable books among translation collectors. Published by Bjartur Publishing House in Reykjavík, this edition is particularly beloved for its striking original cover art by Guðjón Ketilsson, which features Harry standing before the Hogwarts Express—evoking the same perspective as Thomas Taylor’s artwork for the original UK edition. Notably, Ketilsson used his own son, Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson (“Keli”), as the model for Harry.

The decision to publish the book in Icelandic was made by Snæbjörn Arngrímsson, owner of Bjartur, who first discovered Harry Potter through The Bookseller, a British publishing industry magazine. The first Icelandic printing was released on 13 November 1999 at exactly 13:11, a deliberate marketing move to make the launch more memorable. At the time, expectations were modest; just 1,500 copies were printed for the first run. However, the book quickly became a local success, selling over 12,000 copies in its first year.

The Infamous “Joanna” Error

The first printing became even more collectible due to a now-famous error: Rowling’s first name was misprinted on the front cover as “Joanna Rowling” instead of “Joanne.” The mistake was caught immediately when the books returned from the printer, but with the release date looming—and the shipment already behind schedule—the publisher decided to go ahead and sell the copies as-is.

The error was corrected in the second printing, which also consisted of 1,500 copies. This time, the author’s name was changed to the more familiar “J. K. Rowling.” However, following the second printing, the original Icelandic cover by Ketilsson was retired. At the request of Rowling’s agent, the publisher replaced it with the Mary GrandPré artwork used in the U.S. editions. After the cover error, the publisher chose not to contest the requested change.

Collectibility and Value

Today, copies of the first printing—commonly referred to as the “Joanna edition”—are the most sought after by collectors. In fine or near-new condition, they typically sell for £500–£700. The second printing, with the corrected “J. K. Rowling” credit, is less rare but still collectible, generally valued around £100–£200 depending on condition.