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.

Continue reading