Two of the rarest and most valuable Harry Potter first editions – in the same November auction – could achieve more than £100,000.
World-renowned Harry Potter books expert Jim Spencer has uncovered two hardback copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone from the first print run in 1997. Only 500 books came off the presses and – over the course of six years – Jim has found 20 of them.
They’re being offered in the world’s first dedicated Harry Potter Auction by Rare Book Auctions of Lichfield, Staffordshire (sale ends Nov 27). One of the first editions, unwittingly bought by a mum at a Warwickshire [UK] book shop after seeing it on a children’s TV show in 1997, has an estimate of £30,000-£50,000. The other, a pristine example, is guided at £60,000-£80,000. The vendor worked in publishing and bought it after reading a review in The Bookseller.
Jim said: “These scarce first printings mark the very beginning of the Potter phenomenon and are regarded as the ultimate treasure by collectors. The strongest bids tend to pour in from the USA. I was jumping round with excitement when I found the first one in 2019. It was an old Staffordshire ex-library book which the vendor bought at a table top sale in the county for £1 years ago. It hammered at £28,000 and I swiftly became the go-to person for Harry Potter books.”
The same November auction includes three paperback first editions of Philosopher’s Stone. Two are guided at £6,000-£8,000 while a third has an estimate of £800-£1,200 due to its well-loved, used condition. In Jim’s previous sales, the highest premium-inclusive total paid for a hardback first edition of Philosopher’s Stone was £86,000 and for a paperback £13,800.
Jim, director of Rare Book Auctions, said: “I’ve been receiving hundreds of Harry Potter emails every single week for years now. In that time, I’ve responded to thousands of hopeful owners. One million pounds worth of Harry Potter books have passed through my hands.
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“As well as Philosopher’s Stone first editions, I’ve unearthed two uncorrected proofs of the book which achieved £15,000 and £11,000. Other great finds have included two 15th Anniversary competition prize editions of Philosopher’s Stone, the only two ever sold at auction from 15 printed and never released for sale. They achieved £15,000 and £8,000.
“Now feels like the right time to let Harry stand up on his own, rather than being part of a wider book sale. This auction includes some of the most important Potters I’ve ever handled. It’s hard to imagine for most of us, myself included, but this sale could provide the ultimate Christmas present for someone with very deep pockets.”
Aside from the treasures from the fabled first-edition 500, top lots include a Philosopher’s Stone first printing paperback, 1997, in near-fine, unread condition. The vendor’s grandmother bought it for her but it wasn’t her cup of tea so it was never read. It’s been sat on a shelf for 27 years, estimate £6,000-£8,000.
Bidders will also like a cast-signed paperback of Philosopher’s Stone, 53rd printing, autographed by a very young Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and others. It was a prize at Langley School, Solihull. The lucky winner wasn’t a Potter fan, so it remained unread, £800-£1,200.
Then there’s the Uncorrected Proof copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, one of 200-300 printed in 1998. The vendor, a bookseller, received it before publication, £4,000-£7,000. Another valuable lot is an Uncorrected Proof of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Akaban, one of 150-250 copies printed in 1999, £4,000-£6,000.
Finally, the woman the world must thank for creating the Potter magic, JK Rowling, signed a first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, for ‘Harry’. It comes with tickets, gift bag, posters and ephemera, all kept safe from a Moonlight Signing event at London’s Natural History Museum in 2007. It could be yours for £1,500-£2,500.
All items are offered in Rare Book Auctions’ November Harry Potter Auction. The online timed sale ends on November 27 at www.the-saleroom.com
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