Harry Potter's First Book Proof copy Sold for more than $13,000

Rare Harry Potter Philosopher's Stone proof copy, bought for pennies 30 years ago, fetches $13,900 at auction. Includes misprint, J.A. Rowling.

on Mar 28, 2024

Harry Potter's First Book Proof copy Sold for more than $13,000 | Frontlist

A proof copy of the first Harry Potter novel, purchased for pennies in a second-hand bookshop nearly 30 years ago, has sold at auction for 11,000 pounds, or $13,900.

A proof copy of the first Harry Potter novel, which was purchased for pennies in a second-hand bookshop nearly 30 years ago, sold at auction for 11,000 pounds ($13,900).

British auctioneers Hanson's claimed Monday that the first-edition copy of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," which indicates "uncorrected proof copy" on the front, was bought in 1997 from a shop in south London with two other books for a total of 40 pence ($0.50).

According to Hanson's, the unnamed seller took up the book about the famed kid magician as a "throw-in" with other titles and didn't pay any attention to it until she read online about the high prices some books attained.

On Wednesday, the book was sold to a private buyer in the United Kingdom for a hammer price of 11,000 pounds, bringing the total to 14,432 pounds including a sales premium.

According to Jim Spencer, head of books at the auction house, the copy's inside title page incorrectly listed the author's name as "J A Rowling" rather than J.K. Rowling.
"This book so deserved to do well. This proof copy is where the Harry Potter mania started.

"This novel deserves to perform well. This proof copy is where the Harry Potter mania started. Spencer explained that this is the first time the first Harry Potter novel has appeared in print.