The first Marathi translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published on 1 November 2004 by Manjul Publishing House Pvt. Ltd—an institution known for publishing quality Indian translations of some of the most popular works of literature from around the world. It’s unknown how many copies of the first printing of the first Marathi translation were produced, it can be identified by the absence of any reference to later printings on the copyright page—the second (2006) and third (2010) printings can be easily spotted by reference in English to the printing.

The book was translated by Bal Urdhwareshe (the only book in the series he translated) and uses the Mary GrandPré cover artwork originally created for the American adaptation of the book.

In 2018 the fourth printing of the Marathi translation was released by Manjul and the fifth printing came out in 2021. As these were identified on the copyright pages as being later impressions of the book, translation collectors seeking every separate translation of Philosopher’s Stone and had a fourth or fifth printing were could check Marathi off their list as it met their collecting criteria. However, it was later realised by the community that the fourth and fifth printings of the book contained a new translation by a new translator, Manjusha Amdekar, who had also translated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Goblet of Fire into Marathi. When it was realised this was a new and distinct translation, collectors began competing to try and locate a copy of one of the first three printings representing the first translation and prices for the first Marathi translation rose overnight. Interestingly, the second translation has the same ISBN number and same cover artwork as the first translation. Perhaps more surprisingly (and suspiciously), there is no mention on the Manjul website of there being a new Marathi translation. Sean McLennon who runs the Potterglot website and is an expert in Harry Potter translations wonders whether the reason the ISBN remains the same and there’s no mention of a new translation (or translator) on the publishers website is to avoid any potential rights dispute over a new translation with the Blair Partnership—J.K. Rowling’s representatives. He may be right.

In May 2002, two years before the publication of the book by Manjul, there was much fan-fare about a new translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone being published in Marathi. The seemingly authorised book was published by Pushpa-prakashan Ltd (Pune) on 15 May 2002 in an edition of 2,000 copies and priced at Rs200. Sanjay Sanowane from the publishing house told Gulf News that they had obtained an agreement with Rowling’s representatives to publish the book in Marathi for 10% of the sales. This turned out to be a lie. On 27 June 2003 the police arrested Vinod Sonwani, the director of Pushpa-prakashan Ltd, and seized 653 copies of illegal translations of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets valued at a reported Rs1,31,000 (around $1,500 USD). A law suit was later brought by J. K. Rowling through her legal representatives in India against the publisher and translator, Vikas Shulka. A settlement was reached and in a hearing on 3 February 2006 at the Delhi High Court a compromise was recorded to settle the suit. The defendants (the publisher and the translator) acknowledged that they were illegally translating J.K. Rowling’s works from English to Marathi and agreed not to continue any infringing activity. They also agreed to contribute Rs75,000 towards Rowling’s legal fees. It is likely that copies of the unauthorised translation which were sold to the public are still out there in existence.