A copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, one of the initial 500 prints released in 1997, was auctioned off on Saturday by NLB auction based in Paynington, Devon. The novel, which is JK Rowling’s first, fetched 18,000 pounds ($22,329 USD) after being sold at auction, according to the German news agency DPA.
This particular copy has a misspelling of "philosopher" on the back cover and redundantly lists "one wand" twice in its 53-page equipment list. It was expected to sell for between £20,000 and £30,000 but ultimately went for £18,000. The auctioneer described it as a "good example of the very rare first edition," despite showing some signs of wear.
This book was among 300 library editions, indicated by a library stamp on the title page and a previous library card slip. Another early paperback version, which had suffered damage to its spine and cover, sold for £1,300. Initially, only a limited number of copies were published due to uncertainty regarding the book’s potential popularity.
The Harry Potter series consists of seven books that have been adapted into highly successful films, solidifying its status as one of the most beloved series worldwide. In contrast, an untouched first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was sold for £45,201 last June and for £69,000 in March 2022.
