Harry Potter Book Purchased for £3.50 Sells for £8,000
A rare first edition Harry Potter book has been sold at an auction for over £8,000, 27 years after being bought for £3.50. Jane Thompson-Webb, now 52, purchased the book from Ottakar’s Bookshop in Birmingham for £4.99 in 1997 with a 30% staff discount. After keeping it on her bookshelf for nearly 30 years, she found it during a recent clear-out. The paperback copy was auctioned at Richard Winterton Auctioneers in Staffordshire and sold for £6,600, with the total paid by a UK bidder exceeding £8,000.
- A rare first edition Harry Potter book was sold at an auction for over £8,000.
- Jane Thompson-Webb bought the book for £3.50 and kept it for almost 30 years.
- The book was purchased for £4.99 in 1997 from Ottakar’s Bookshop in Birmingham with a staff discount.
Auctioneer Richard Winterton expressed delight at the high price, stating, “This is a fantastic result, reflecting the wonderful condition of this copy.” The auction attracted significant interest, with over 30 bidders from the US and UK participating online, along with two telephone bids and spectators in the saleroom. The book’s original owner, Jane Thompson-Webb, shared her story of purchasing the book in 1997 while working at Ottakar’s and observing the impact of the Harry Potter series on young readers.
- The auctioneer was pleased with the high price achieved at the auction.
- Over 30 bidders from the US and UK participated online, along with some in the saleroom.
- Jane Thompson-Webb discussed the book’s purchase and the influence of the series on young readers.
The original book features a misspelling on the back cover and credits the author as Joanne Rowling instead of JK Rowling. Mr. Winterton highlighted key indicators for identifying a first edition Harry Potter book, such as checking the back cover, publisher, copyright information, and specific details within the book’s content. He emphasized that early printings of the title credit text copyright to Joanne Rowling. The book’s sale at auction showcased the enduring popularity and value of rare first edition copies of beloved literary works.
Maintaining the Value of First Edition Books
Richard Winterton Auctioneers in Staffordshire recently auctioned a rare first edition Harry Potter book purchased for £3.50 in 1997, which sold for over £8,000. The success of this auction highlights the enduring popularity and increasing value of rare first edition books among collectors and literary enthusiasts alike. Through meticulous attention to detail and expert evaluation, rare books with unique printing errors and historical significance continue to captivate bidders and fetch remarkable prices at auctions worldwide. Whether for investment purposes or the sheer joy of owning a piece of literary history, the allure of first edition books remains undiminished in the digital age.
- Rare first edition books hold significant value and appeal to collectors and literary enthusiasts.
- Attention to detail and expert evaluation play a crucial role in determining the value of rare books.
- The enduring allure of first edition books persists in the modern era, attracting bidders and collectors globally.