Just 13 of the world’s rarest Harry Potter books – one won in a school raffle 20 years ago – have sparked an auction frenzy and record results.
The books – both pristine and battered copies – were discovered over the course of three months across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland by world-renowned Potter books expert Jim Spencer. Together they achieved a hammer total of £151,720 in the world’s first dedicated Harry Potter Auction.
Jim, director of Rare Book Auctions, of Lichfield, Staffordshire, organised the sale due to intense global demand for scarce Potter books. And competition was fierce. Bids flooded in from all over the world. Estimates were smashed and every lot sold.
The sale included two extremely scarce examples of the most sought after book, first edition hardback copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Only 500 were published in the first ever Potter print run in 1997. These fabled issues are regarded as the holy grail by collectors, and Jim has found 20 of them. They mark the start of the biggest-selling book series of all time. Three paperback first editions of the same book were also up for grabs.
International online bidders paid premium-inclusive prices of £80,000 (hammer £64,000, lot 1) and £45,000 (hammer £36,000) for the holy-grail Philosopher’s Stone hardbacks. The latter was unwittingly bought by a Derbyshire mum for her son in 1997 after seeing author JK Rowling interviewed on children’s TV show Blue Peter. The other, in better condition, was purchased the same year at a branch of WHSmith in London as a family gift.
Meanwhile, two near-fine paperbook first editions of Philosopher’s Stone hammered at £12,000 each, well above their £8,000 top guide. It was the highest auction price Jim has ever achieved for paperback Philosopher’s Stone first editions. A well-thumbed example of the same paperback reached £6,000 (hammer) from a £800-£1,200 estimate – despite a battered cover and staining.
Jim, director of Rare Book Auctions, said: “This sale’s been hugely exciting. The first auction dedicated solely to Harry Potter books not only broke records in terms of the number of registered bidders and watchers on the world’s major global bidding platform [the-saleroom.com] – there are thousands of worldwide auctions listed at any one time – but in the hammer prices achieved. Lot 1 alone had 150 watchers!
“We’ve had cast-signed books, uncorrected proofs and paperbacks many times over the years, but this sale soared to new heights. We worked really hard to pitch this event perfectly, so it’s a huge relief that everything clicked into place. The 13 books are now winging their way to new homes across the UK, the USA and the United Arab Emirates.
“It’s taken a lot of miles out on the road, visiting people far and wide to secure the 13 lots that made up this very small, specialist sale. I was always keen to let Harry stand up on his own in this way, and the results have shown how enthusiastically the market welcomes these books. Bids were pouring in from all over the world for this auction in the heart of England. I’ve met some amazing people with moving stories to tell, so the best thing is to know we’ve done them proud.”
Other strong results included a record hammer price of £5,500 (estimate £800-£1,200) for a cast-signed copy of a 53rd printing paperback of Philosopher’s Stone – won at school by the vendor in around 2001. It was signed by the film’s three main child actors, Daniel Radcliffe [Harry Potter], Rupert Grint [Ron Weasley], and Emma Watson [Hermione Granger] as well as numerous other cast members including Tom Felton [Draco Malfoy] and Julie Walters [Mrs Weasley]. It was won in a raffle held at Langley School, Solihull, West Midlands, after being donated by a teaching colleague whose twin sons played the doubles for the Weasley twins in the first Potter film.
In addition, an uncorrected proof copy of Chamber of Secrets fetched a record £7,000; an uncorrected proof of Prisoner of Azkaban hammered at £5,000 and a copy of Deathly Hallows signed ‘To Harry!’ by JK Rowling achieved £2,600. (hammer)
Auction: The Harry Potter Auction was held by Rare Book Auctions, Staffordshire, England. The online timed sale ended on November 27, 2024.
-ENDS-
Captions | Credit Rare Book Auctions unless otherwise stated – refer to captions on image
Book entries invited
Enquiries: Jim Spencer | [email protected]
Rare Book Auctions, 3 Wade Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6HL
Website: www.rarebookauctions.co.uk
