Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

SCAMANDER, Newt. [J.K. Rowling].

Item Number: 105637

London: Obscurus Books in Association with Bloomsbury, 2001.

First edition of the authoritative guide book to the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe, written by Rowling under the pseudonym Newt Scamander. Small octavo, original wrappers as issued, illustrated by the author as Harry Potter’s personal copy with his notes throughout. Signed by J.K. Rowling on the title page. In fine condition.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them purports to be Harry Potter's personal copy of the guidebook mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone the first novel of the Harry Potter series. In a 2001 interview with publisher Scholastic, Rowling stated that she chose the subject of magical creatures because it was a fun topic for which she had already developed a lot of information in earlier books. Rowling's name did not appear on the cover of the first edition, the work being credited under the pen name "Newt Scamander", who, in the books, wrote this textbook as seen on Harry's supply list for his first year.