Who would have thought that a worn-out book bought at a library sale for $1.20 would bring its owner an income of $34,500. That is, if it is the first edition of Harry Potter. A resident of England simply bought the first part of the book “The Philosopher’s Stone” for reading on vacation. After reading, the paper edition gathered dust on a shelf in a cabinet.
Harry Potter: the first copy
Years later, the owner decided to renovate his house, but lacked funds. Instead of taking a loan, the homeowner invited an auction expert. The surprise was great when it turned out that the book was a first print of Harry Potter.
It turns out that early editions of the books contain errors, and the author’s name is listed differently. On the back cover, the word “philosopher” is misspelled. The author is Joanne K. Rowling (instead of initials J.K.). According to the writer, all first edition books printed in 1997 were distributed to schools and children’s libraries.
The book Harry Potter was sold at Hansons auction for 28,500 pounds sterling. The buyer is a well-known English collector who, like the seller, wished to remain anonymous. Perhaps the price for the first edition is undervalued. However, there was no auction frenzy – only three participants expressed interest in acquiring the coveted book.
When it comes to investments, the book owner was very lucky. Such editions have long been controlled by collectors. Almost all books published in England in the first print run end up in private libraries. But, according to an expert from Hansons auction, Jim Spencer, owners of old books hope that their copy has value. Experts receive thousands of letters from around the world. Check your library – you might find something very valuable.
