A uncommon first-edition hardback of one of many first Harry Potter novels – initially bought from WHSmith in 1997 – has bought for £85,000 at an public sale solely devoted to the kids’s collection.
13 books had been bought in complete via Uncommon E-book Auctions, together with two paperback variations of the identical JK Rowling novel for £12,000 every and one other, with a stained cowl, promoting for £6,000.
With greater than 600 million copies bought worldwide, Harry Potter is the best-selling ebook collection in historical past and a cultural phenomenon. Now, many are questioning whether or not the copies they’ve of the books may be price one thing.
Mud off your copies and maintain studying to find in case you’re in with an opportunity of incomes a fairly penny out of your Harry Potter books.
First version of the Thinker’s Stone: £5,000 to £100,000
Through the first ebook’s unique launch in July 1997, solely 5,150 paperback copies and 500 hardback variations had been printed. With the collection’ success, these copies are actually extremely priceless, and could be price as much as tens of hundreds relying on their situation and whether or not they’re signed by JK Rowling (whose identify is written as Joanne Rowling inside these copies).
In response to WeBuyBooks, these are another particulars it’s good to spot to inform in case your copy is a primary version:
- On the underside of the entrance cowl, there must be a credit score by Wendy Cooling that reads: “A terrific learn and beautiful first novel”.
- On the reverse of the title web page, a quantity sequence on the backside ought to learn: “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1”. In response to the retailer, the sequence should go all the way down to primary, as this denotes that the copy is from the ebook’s first print run.
- A number of misprints point out a duplicate is first version: on the highest of web page 53, “1 wand” is listed twice in an inventory titled “Different Gear”. On the again cowl, the primary paragraph ought to start with “Popularity of Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone” the place “Thinker’s” is lacking a second O.
First version of the Chamber of Secrets and techniques: as much as £7,000
Because the collection grew in reputation, increasingly more first editions of Rowling’s books had been printed with each new instalment, that means they lower barely of their price because the collection goes on. In the event you personal a primary version copy, although (particularly a signed one), you may nonetheless pocket a few thousand.
AbeBooks – which specialises in uncommon books – estimates that hardcover first editions of the collection’ second title may fetch as much as £7,000. As a result of Rowling wasn’t that well-known presently, various signed copies exist too – which may increase a duplicate’s price into 4 figures.
First version of the Prisoner of Azkaban: as much as £9,500
In response to the retailer, there’s a particular version of the third title which may rating you a pleasant payout. The primary print run of the hardcover was stopped, mid-printing, when it was found that ‘Joanne Rowling’ was printed on the copyright web page as an alternative of JK Rowling.
Though solely a small variety of copies had been printed, they may very well be price practically £10,000 if in case you have a pristine, signed copy. You’ll have to look out for the quantity sequence “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” and for a block of misaligned textual content on the seventh web page of the ebook to show it, although.
First version of the Goblet of Hearth: as much as £8,000
At this level, Rowling’s star was shining vibrant, so she signed fewer copies of first editions. In case your first version copy of Goblet of Hearth boasts a signature from the creator (or one of many ebook’s illustrators) it may very well be price as much as £8,000.
With regard to the remainder of the collection, signed copies of the remainder of the collection may go for the next:
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: A duplicate signed by Rowling on the midnight launch of the occasion in Edinburgh may very well be priced at 4 figures
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Solely a handful of signed first-edition copies can be found, and have bought for simply shy of £4,000
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Rowling signed first-edition copies for 1,700 fortunate individuals who gained tickets to a particular launch occasion on the Pure Historical past Museum. The costliest copy to promote went for practically £4,500
