First Edition Harry Potter Book Found in the Trash Sells for a Surprising Price

A first edition Harry Potter book. Source: DevonLive

A first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has achieved an impressive auction result.

Daniel Pearce, the owner of the auction house, stumbled upon the book while sorting through the personal belongings of a deceased man from Brixham. These items had been set aside to be discarded, deemed as unwanted, or of little value. 

As Pearce sifted through the collection, he recognized the potential rarity of the book—Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in its first edition form. Initially, it seemed like just another old book among many, but upon closer inspection, Pearce quickly realized its significance. 

He described the find as “an absolutely great result for a first edition hardcover,” noting the unexpected value of the item in a batch of belongings that had been marked for the trash. The discovery not only highlighted the book’s rarity but also demonstrated how seemingly overlooked items can hold immense worth.

The book is from the original print run of 500 copies, with 300 distributed to public libraries. Pearce was able to verify it as a first edition due to a common printing error – the word "philosopher's" was misspelled on the back cover, missing the letter 'o.'

“There’s an omission of the 'o' at the end,” he explained.

Auctioneer Daniel Pearce came across the book among items that were designated for the trash. Another distinctive feature of first editions is the number sequence on the title page, which runs from 10 down to 1.

Auctioneer Daniel Pearce came across the book among items that were designated for the trash. Source: bbc.com

Mr. Pearce pointed out that on the first page of the book, there was a pencil mark indicating the original library price of £2 when it was first checked out.

To accommodate bidders on the U.S. West Coast, the auction was held at 16:00 GMT. Pearce noted that the successful sale of the book had attracted international attention, with the book eventually selling for £21,000.

“It’s made its way overseas, and it’s a great result. The owner will be delighted with the money,” he added.

Mr. Pearce also mentioned that another first edition copy in similar condition sold in November for a higher price, £42,000, including fees.

The Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, is known for its iconic first book, published in 1997, followed by the subsequent titles. This sale, reaching £21,000, further solidifies the series' enduring cultural impact and the continued demand for its collectible first editions, proving that the magic of Harry Potter remains as powerful as ever.

References:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3neeg0p42o 

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-potter-first-edition-book-found-in-skip-sells-at-auction-for-33-000-11992419