Harry Potter Book Saved from Bin Sells for £21,000
A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was set to be discarded, has fetched more than £21,000 at auction.
The book went under the hammer at NLB Auctions in Paignton on Saturday, attracting bidders in the room, over the phone, and online.
Daniel Pearce, who runs the auction house, discovered the valuable edition among the belongings of a deceased man from Brixham. The items had been earmarked for disposal before he recognised the book’s significance.
Describing the sale price as “an absolutely great result for a first edition hardback,” Mr Pearce confirmed the book was part of the initial print run of 500 copies, with 300 of these originally distributed to public libraries.
One of the key identifying features was a misspelling on the back cover, where the word ‘philosopher’s’ was missing the final ‘o’.
“It is missing the ‘o’ at the end,” Mr Pearce explained, noting that such printing errors are crucial in authenticating rare editions.
To accommodate interested buyers from the west coast of the United States, the auction house scheduled the lot for approximately 16:00 GMT.
Mr Pearce stated, “It has now made its way overseas, which is a really good result. The owner will be delighted with the money as well.”
The sale underscores the continued fascination with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, particularly among collectors seeking rare and valuable editions. First edition copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone have been known to fetch substantial sums, with some even exceeding six figures at high-profile auctions.
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The enduring popularity of the Harry Potter franchise, combined with the rarity of early editions, ensures that such finds remain highly sought after by collectors worldwide. This particular copy’s near-dismissal as waste adds an extra layer of intrigue to its journey from being almost discarded to becoming a prized possession in a collector’s library.
Experts in rare book collecting suggest that other first editions of the series, especially those with similar unique printing anomalies, could fetch significant sums in the future. The discovery of such editions highlights the importance of thoroughly checking old books before discarding them.
The auction has also sparked interest in other rare book discoveries, with collectors and book lovers eager to uncover hidden literary treasures. Many are now looking through their bookshelves in hopes of finding similar valuable editions.
