A 1997 hardback copy of the first edition of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone" was auctioned by Bonhams at its Fine Books and Manuscripts Sale in London on Nov. 9, Wednesday. The classic was sold for a world record £43,750.
The book was primarily auctioned with an estimated price range of £15,000-£20,000. However, a London-based businessman purchased the timeless piece for more than twice its sale price. Bonhams Books and Manuscripts senior specialist, Simon Roberts, described the book as "in excellent condition", which he believes added to its appeal and caused such an intense bidding session.
The J.K. Rowling masterpiece distinctively consists of a typo at the back cover which is one of its famous charms to the Harry Potter enthusiasts. It contains a missing second "o" in the word "Philosopher's" and reads: "Acclaim for 'Harry Potter And The Philospher's Stone'". Another factor that contributes to the book's rarity is its print line that reads "1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on its copyright page.
The Sun reported that last August, a copy of the same book was sold at an auction for £20,000 due to a small repetition error on page 53. It displays a list of equipment that the widardry students are told to bring to Hogwarts, where the phrase "1 wand" is being listed twice.
Furthermore, one of the seven hand-written copies of Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" will be auctioned at Sotheby's in London on Dec. 13 and its proceeds will go to charity. It is expected to make £500,000 as it is leather-bound and studded with jewels.
While all these may sound too fortune-generating, Mirror Online explained earlier this year about how a full collection of signed first editions of "Harry Potter" can set back more than £20,000. First editions with original signatures or even personal notes by the renowned author are worth a lot more than the succeeding books, according to Matthew Haley, the head of books at Bonhams.
"Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone" is the first book in J.K. Rowling's best-selling collection and was published on June 30, 1997 by Bloomsbury. It was renamed "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone" in the United States, where it was turned into a successful Hollywood film.
