Two rare Harry Potter books sell for £100k at auction - check if you own an old copy

Two of rarest Harry Potter books ever printed could execute £100,000 astatine the world's archetypal auction dedicated wholly to the celebrated lad wizard.

The copies of The Philosopher’s Stone are among a postulation of Harry Potter memorabilia expected to apical £126,000 erstwhile it goes nether the hammer.

One of the archetypal editions, unwittingly bought by a mum astatine a Warwickshire publication store aft seeing it connected Blue Peter successful 1997, is expected to fetch £30,000-£50,000.

The other, a pristine example, is guided astatine £60,000-£80,000. The vendor worked successful publishing and bought it aft speechmaking a reappraisal successful The Bookseller.

They were some 1 of 500 hardback copies published successful the archetypal ever Potter publication print-run successful 1997 and are among the the rarest and astir sought-after by fans.

They were uncovered by publication adept Jim Spencer, who has recovered and sold £1 cardinal worthy of Harry Potter books.

Over the people of six years, Jim has recovered 20 of the 500 Philosopher’s Stone archetypal editions and it present holding the world's archetypal Harry Potter auction.

Jim said: “These scarce archetypal printings people the precise opening of the Potter improvement and are regarded arsenic the eventual treasure by collectors.

"The strongest bids thin to determination successful from the USA. I was jumping circular with excitement erstwhile I recovered the archetypal one in 2019.

"It was an aged Staffordshire ex-library publication which the vendor bought astatine a array apical merchantability successful the region for £1 years ago.

"It hammered astatine £28,000 and I swiftly became the go-to idiosyncratic for Harry Potter books.

“Now feels similar the close clip to fto Harry basal up connected his own, alternatively than being portion of a wider publication sale.

"This auction includes immoderate of the astir important Potters I've ever handled.

"It's hard to ideate for astir of us, myself included, but this merchantability could supply the eventual Christmas contiguous for idiosyncratic with precise heavy pockets.”

The aforesaid November merchantability astatine Rare Book Auctions, successful Lichfield, Staffs., besides includes 3 paperback archetypal editions of Philosopher’s Stone.

Two are guided astatine £6,000-£8,000 portion a 3rd has an estimation of £800-£1,200 owed to its well-loved, utilized condition.

In Jim’s erstwhile sales, the highest premium-inclusive full paid for a hardback archetypal variation of Philosopher’s Stone was £86,000 and for a paperback £13,800.

Jim, manager of Rare Book Auctions, added: “I’ve been receiving hundreds of Harry Potter emails each azygous week for years now.

"In that time, I've responded to thousands of hopeful owners. One cardinal pounds worthy of Harry Potter books person passed done my hands.

“As good arsenic Philosopher’s Stone archetypal editions, I’ve unearthed 2 uncorrected proofs of the publication which achieved £15,000 and £11,000.

"Other large finds person included 2 15th Anniversary contention prize editions of Philosopher's Stone, the lone 2 ever sold astatine auction from 15 printed and ne'er released for sale.

"They achieved £15,000 and £8,000."

Other apical tons see a Philosopher's Stone archetypal printing paperback, 1997, successful near-fine, unread condition.

The vendor's grandma bought it for her but it wasn't her cupful of beverage truthful it was ne'er read. It’s been sat connected a support for 27 years and could fetch £6,000-£8,000.

There's besides a cast-signed paperback of Philosopher's Stone, 53rd printing, autographed by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and others.

Given a usher terms of £800-£1,200 it was a prize astatine Langley School, Solihull. West Mids., but the fortunate victor wasn't a Potter fan, truthful it remained unread.

An Uncorrected Proof transcript of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1 of 200-300 printed successful 1998 could merchantability for £4,000-£7,000.

An Uncorrected Proof of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Akaban, 1 of 150-250 copies printed successful 1999, is expected to fetch £4,000-£6,000.

Finally, a JK Rowling signed archetypal variation transcript of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, for ‘Harry’ is guided astatine £1,500-£2,500.

It comes with tickets, acquisition bag, posters and ephemera, each kept harmless from a Moonlight Signing lawsuit astatine London’s Natural History Museum successful 2007.

The online timed merchantability ends connected November 27 astatine www.the-saleroom.com.