Harry Potter UK first edition, bought for 38 cents, sells for astonishing price

A copy of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,’ the British first edition of the first Harry Potter book, sold for a hammer price of £10,500 (about $13,500) at auction in Lichfield, England on July 10. Image courtesy of Richard Winterton Auctioneers and Antiques Trade Gazette
A copy of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,’ the British first edition of the first Harry Potter book, sold for a hammer price of £10,500 (about $13,500) at auction in Lichfield, England on July 10. Image courtesy of Richard Winterton Auctioneers and Antiques Trade Gazette
A copy of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,’ the British first edition of the first Harry Potter book, sold for a hammer price of £10,500 (about $13,500) at auction in Lichfield, England on July 10. Image courtesy of Richard Winterton Auctioneers and Antiques Trade Gazette

LICHFIELD, U.K. – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the British first edition of the first Harry Potter book, has become a Holy Grail for collectors of a certain age. On Monday, July 10 – mere weeks before the fictional boy wizard marks his July 31 birthday, which he shares with author J.K. Rowling – the rare book performed magic again, this time at auction in England. An ex-library copy purchased for the equivalent of 38 cents sold for a hammer price of around $13,500. An American bidder participating via thesaleroom.com came away victorious.

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Hogwarts acceptance letter from first Harry Potter movie to be auctioned June 22

A Hogwarts acceptance letter in its unopened, Hogwarts-sealed envelope is expected to sell for more than £10,000-£12,000 ($12,620-$15,140) at Chiswick Auctions on June 22. It is accompanied by a letter of provenance from Harry Potter Productions. Image courtesy of Chiswick Auctions, London

LONDON – A Hogwarts acceptance letter and envelope used in a much-loved scene in the first of the Harry Potter movies is expected to sell for more than £10,000 ($16,620) at a June 22 auction conducted by Chiswick Auctions. The rare movie prop has been consigned by an individual who bought it at a school charity auction in 2002. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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Heritage sales exceed $1B in 2021 – a first for the Dallas-based auction house

J.C. Leyendecker, ‘Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,’ $4.12 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
J.C. Leyendecker, ‘Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,’ $4.12 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

J.C. Leyendecker, ‘Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,’ $4.12 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

DALLAS – Heritage Auctions recorded $1.4 billion in sales in 2021, marking the first time in its 45-year history the Dallas-based auction house has surpassed the billion-dollar mark. Heritage also set numerous auction world records during the past year, including ones for the world’s most valuable comic book, J.C. Leyendecker painting, video game, Michael Jordan jersey, Peanuts artwork, hockey trading card and Harry Potter book. And it did not take a magic wand to reach this extraordinary benchmark.

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Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone book sets auction record at $471K

A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold December 9 in Dallas for $471,000 and a new world auction record for the book.
A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold December 9 in Dallas for $471,000 and a new world auction record for the book.
A 1997 British first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in the Harry Potter series, sold December 9 in Dallas for $471,000 and a new world auction record.

DALLAS – A rare first edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold December 9 at Heritage Auctions for $471,000, the highest price ever paid for the boy wizard’s debut in any form.

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Potter & Potter’s Aug 28 book auction spans Melville to Rowling

1851 first American edition of Herman Melville's ‘Moby–Dick; or, The Whale,’ est. $50,000-$60,000
1851 first American edition of Herman Melville’s ‘Moby–Dick; or, The Whale,’ est. $50,000-$60,000

CHICAGO – Potter & Potter Auctions will hold a 600-plus lot Fine Books & Manuscripts on August 28, starting at 10 am Central time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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