UK auction: Harry Potter first edition sells for £7.5K
What's the story
A rare first-edition copy of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, generously donated to the Isle of Wight RSPCA branch, fetched £7,500 (Rs. 7.8 lakh) plus commission at a recent auction. Hanson's Auctioneers in Staffordshire hosted the event, with bids opening at £4,200. Jim Spencer, the auction house's Harry Potter books expert, estimated the book's value between £7,000 and £10,000 due to its "exceptional condition."
About
About Isle of Wight RSPCA
Isle of Wight is an independently registered animal welfare charity licensed by the RSPCA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) as an animal rehoming center and wildlife rehabilitation center, located in Godshill, United Kingdom. According to the BBC, funds from the auction will go towards the Isle of Wight branch with an 11 month-old Cockapoo dog named Harry among other beneficiaries.
First edition
Volunteer cross-checked the details
Rebecca Busby from the Island charity shared that the book was given as a potential first edition. An enthusiastic volunteer and Harry Potter fan contacted Busby, exclaiming, "I can't believe it, we have a Harry Potter first edition, it's in the best condition I have ever seen." The volunteer had verified all well-known markers, confirming that this copy had them all.
Previous auctions
Previous auction details
Previously, a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was acutioned for £10,500 (Rs. 11 lakh) in July 2023, while a pristine copy fetched £69,000 (Rs. 72 lakh) in March 2022. The Isle of Wight RSPCA auction took only a few minutes after it began at 9:30 am and was won by an online bidder. Spencer remarked that finding another copy in such excellent condition would be quite a challenge.
Book condition
The book was in pristine condition
Per Spencer, it would be "very difficult" to find another copy of the book that has been so "well-preserved." The only minor flaws, according to Spencer, were a "couple of lightly folded corners" and "the usual light browning" to page edges. Spencer further says that the "book deserves to fly," especially for such a great cause.