In an auction, a rare first edition copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” that was purchased for just 30 pence might bring in up to £5,000. Here are more details on it.

Several publishers turned down JK Rowling’s debut novel in the Harry Potter series before Bloomsbury consented to print only roughly 500 copies of it in 1997. As they say, the rest is history. And now there is rumour that a rare first edition copy of the first Harry Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” which cost only 30 pence, could get up to?5,000 (INR 5,21,578) at auction.

‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’s’ first 500 books were published, and according to accounts, only about 300 of those were given to public libraries.
Therefore, it is very difficult to find a first edition of the first Harry Potter book.
A Staffordshire resident purchased a first edition copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” from Wolverhampton libraries. After the man, who was 55 years old, passed away suddenly earlier this year, the book was later found at his residence.

His sister informed the BBC that her brother had a passion for collecting books and mementos but asked to remain anonymous.
“He started dealing in books and memorabilia when he was still at school. He would go to jumble sales and church fairs and would come back with a pile of annuals or comics,” she said.

However, the man had packed hundreds of boxes full of his possessions when he had moved houses around four years prior. The book was initially believed to have been lost, but according to sources, it was discovered after a crew from Richard Winterton Auctioneers sifted through his belongings.

“It has clearly been well-read, which is most befitting of one of the initial run of books which helped fuel the early popularity of Potter – which, of course, rapidly evolved into a global phenomenon,” Winterton said. He further said that the rare book’s
auction on July 10 would be “a magical moment”.

This is not the first time a rare Harry Potter book has been put up for auction, either. A rare original edition of the Harry Potter book sold for £69,000 in March 2022. A 15th anniversary edition of the Harry Potter book was auctioned off for £8,000 in December 2022.