Two of rarest Harry Potter books ever printed could achieve £100,000 at the world’s first auction dedicated entirely to the famous boy wizard.
The copies of The Philosopher’s Stone are among a collection of Harry Potter memorabilia expected to top £126,000 when it goes under the hammer. One of the first editions, unwittingly bought by a mum at a Warwickshire book shop after seeing it on Blue Peter in 1997, is expected to fetch £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. They were both one of 500 hardback copies published in the first ever Potter book print-run in 1997 and are among the the rarest and most sought-after by fans.
They were uncovered by book expert Jim Spencer, who has found and sold £1 million worth of Harry Potter books. Over the course of six years, Jim has found 20 of the 500 Philosopher’s Stone first editions and it now holding the world’s first Harry Potter auction.
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.
“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.”
The same November sale at Rare Book Auctions, in Lichfield, Staffs., also 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, added: “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.
“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.”
Other 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 and could fetch £6,000- £8,000.
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There’s also a cast-signed paperback of Philosopher’s Stone, 53rd printing, autographed by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and others. Given a guide price of £800- £1,200 it was a prize at Langley School, Solihull. West Mids., but the lucky winner wasn’t a Potter fan, so it remained unread.
An Uncorrected Proof copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, one of 200-300 printed in 1998 could sell for £4,000- £7,000. An Uncorrected Proof of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, one of 150-250 copies printed in 1999, is expected to fetch £4,000- £6,000.
Finally, a JK Rowling signed first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, for ‘Harry’ is guided at £1,500- £2,500. 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.
The online timed sale ends on November 27 at www.the-saleroom.com.
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