$19K for Harry Potter Book

First Edition Books - Harry Potter Book Sells for $19,120

Collectibles and Collectables - Rare Harry Potter Book Auction

Dallas auction house Heritage Auction Galleries has reported that a copy of the first Harry Potter paperback book has been sold for just over $19,120.

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (sold as the Sorcerer's Stone in the US) had a first print run of only 200 copies with illustrated wrappers by publisher Bloomsbury. The 1997 work includes an illustrated card signed by author J. K. Rowling.

The winning bid of $19,120 was almost double the previous highest price paid for a softcover Harry Potter book. The bidder was collector from Dubai whose wife is a Harry Potter fan.

This is the description from the auction catalogue :

"J. K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. [London]: Bloomsbury, [1997]."

"First edition, with all first issue points including "Joanne Rowling" and "Thomas Taylor1997" (no space before year) on copyright page, along with the complete number sequence "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1." Twelvemo. 223 pages."

"This, the first book in the Harry Potter series, was issued simultaneously in both hardcover and softcover. This softcover copy is in the original pictorial stiff wrappers. The pages have toned lightly as is common with this title; otherwise there are no creases to the covers or spine, and the binding is tight. A fine copy of Rowling's first book. Mounted inside the back cover is a card featuring the front cover artwork, signed by J. K. Rowling."

"Reputedly only 300 hardcover and 200 softcover copies of Rowling's first book were printed, and nearly all of these went to schools and libraries. Considering that many of Rowling's later books were printed in first edition runs numbering in the millions, the rarity of this volume - the book that launched a cultural phenomenon - is extraordinarily significant. Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000."

The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling contains 7 volumes, the last of which was published author in 2007 and has sold over 300 million copies. If you are looking for a Harry Potter book to buy as an investment then bear in mind that it is very unlikely that the recent volumes will ever command such prices. The copies you need to find are signed first editions of the very first book in the series. Good luck.

Alternatively you can try and spot the next Harry Potter. You need a book with a cult following that had a very limited first print run because the author was unknown but is fast becoming famous. An early signed Eragon written by Paolini and self-published by Paolini might be one such example, but sof ar his books have not risen to the heights of J K Rowling's books. (He was not helped by the film which by all accounts was not very good). A quick look on Abebooks gives prices for signed Eragons of between $500 and $9,000. Another possibility may be Angie Sage's Magyk also published by Bloomsbury and a film of which is being made.

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