'The Holy Grail': Harry Potter book bought for $1.75 sells for $50,000
It’s time to check your bookshelves.
An original copy of JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book has sold for an eye-watering £28,500 (A$50,600).
To make the sale even sweeter for its owner, he purchased it second-hand over 20 years ago for just £1 (A$1.75).
“I can’t believe it. It’s what I’d hoped for but I never really believed my book would make that price,” the 54-year-old office worker who wishes to remain anonymous said.
The hardback book was initially used in a Staffordshire Library before being put up for sale.
The edition was sold at auction in the UK by Hansons Auctioneers.
Head of books at Hansons, Jim Spencer, said in a statement the owner wasn’t aware of the book’s true value when he called for help assessing several boxes of books.
“I found the book when I was called to a client’s house near Stafford to value three boxes of books,” he recalled.
“There it was – the holy grail of Harry Potter books. I was so excited. Every book valuer dreams of finding one of these.”
The book was one of only 500 first published in 1997 by Bloomsbury after it was initially rejected by several publishers.
It is distinguishable from other versions by two typographical errors.
The back page misspells philosopher’s as ‘philospher’s’ and on page 53 a list of equipment mentions ‘1 wand’ twice.
Rowling’s name also appears as Joanne Rowling instead of JK.
The same version of the book signed by the author sold for £68,000 (A$120,000) in May.
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