Harry Potter fans across Britain are facing a magical mishap of muggle-like proportions as high street giant WHSmith issues an urgent recall of misprinted copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
The bookselling chain has confirmed that a batch of the beloved first instalment in JK Rowling's wizarding series contains a significant printing error, with one entire chapter mysteriously vanishing from the pages.
What's Actually Missing?
Affected copies are missing Chapter 14 - 'Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback' - a crucial section where Harry and his friends navigate the consequences of hiding a dragon in the Hogwarts castle. The error creates a confusing jump in the narrative that has left both young readers and seasoned Potterheads scratching their heads.
One disappointed customer shared their frustration, stating: "I was reading to my daughter and suddenly the story didn't make sense. We thought we were going mad until we realised pages were missing."
WHSmith's Response
The retailer has acted swiftly, instructing all customers who purchased the defective copies to return them to their nearest WHSmith store for a full refund or replacement. A spokesperson for the company acknowledged the error and apologised for any disappointment caused to customers.
"We are aware of a printing error in a small number of copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and are working with the publisher to resolve this," the statement read.
Publisher's Involvement
Bloomsbury, the original publisher of the Harry Potter series, is working closely with WHSmith to address the production error. While the exact number of affected copies remains unclear, both companies are keen to ensure fans receive perfect editions of the modern classic.
This isn't the first time Harry Potter books have encountered printing problems, though previous errors have typically involved smaller issues like typos rather than missing entire chapters.
What Customers Should Do
- Check your copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone purchased recently from WHSmith
- Look for the missing Chapter 14 between pages 200-215
- Return any defective copies to any WHSmith store for full refund or replacement
- Keep your receipt if possible, though the retailer is likely to accept returns without it
The recall serves as a reminder that even in the world of modern publishing and advanced printing technology, magical mistakes can still occur that would make even Hermione Granger raise an eyebrow.
