- An ultra-rare first edition of Harry Potter is expected to fetch around $6,000 at auction.
- Purchased for just 38 cents, the book was mistakenly left in a storage locker during a move.
- This edition is one of only 500 printed, with a rare typo on the back cover.
A worn-out copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, purchased for less than a dollar and nearly lost in storage, is anticipated to be sold for approximately $6,000 at an upcoming auction.
This frayed version happens to be an extremely rare hardcover first edition exclusively distributed to UK libraries upon the book’s initial release in 1997.
Out of the 500 copies that were printed, only 300 were sent to libraries, as revealed by Richard Winterton Auctioneers, an English auction house.
Despite the worn condition of the book’s spine, it has been valued between £3,000-£5,000 ($3,800-$6,300).
The book still retains its library identification, with a spine sticker bearing the letter J, and a stamp indicating it was withdrawn from the library and sold for 30p, according to auctioneer Richard Winterton.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers
Notably, this particular book has a typo on the back cover – the word “philosopher’s” is missing the letter ‘o’.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers/Insider
The previous owner of the book, an enthusiastic book collector, tragically passed away at the age of 55 earlier this year, according to the auction house.
He had acquired the book for the equivalent of 38 cents at a library sale in Wolverhampton, central England. However, when he relocated four years ago, the book was inadvertently placed in storage with numerous other belongings.
His sister, who wishes to remain anonymous, mentioned that the man began dealing in books and memorabilia during his school years, according to a press release.
He would purchase stacks of comic books and annuals from rummage sales and church fairs, distributing them to friends or reselling them.
The family was aware of the potential value of the Harry Potter book, but assumed it had been lost.
Now that it has resurfaced, the sister expressed the family’s excitement about the discovery.
The auctioneer described it as an extraordinary find.
“Withdrawn and discarded from the library, bought for 30p, and now worth thousands of pounds,” said Winterton.
He added: “It has clearly been well-read, which is most befitting of one of the initial run of books that contributed to the early popularity of Potter – a series that rapidly evolved into a global phenomenon.”
According to Winterton, the book’s estimate is relatively low due to its condition, but other early Harry Potter books have sold for much higher prices.
In 2022, a rare first edition of the same book, which was purchased for £12.99 ($16.94) and kept in pristine condition, was sold for $90,000.
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