Rare Harry Potter Proof Copy Sells for Over $13,000 at Auction
A rare proof copy of the first Harry Potter novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” has fetched a staggering sum of 11,000 pounds ($13,900) at auction. Purchased almost 30 years ago for just 40 pence ($0.50) from a second-hand bookshop in south London, the uncorrected proof copy was acquired by the seller along with two other books as an afterthought.
The seller, whose identity remains undisclosed, initially regarded the book as a mere “throw-in” and paid little attention to it for years. However, upon learning online about the soaring prices fetched by certain editions of the Harry Potter series, the seller realized the potential value of their uncorrected proof copy.
This particular copy, featuring the rare designation of “uncorrected proof copy” on the cover, bears a notable typographical error on the inside title page, where the author’s name is mistakenly listed as “J A Rowling” instead of J.K. Rowling. Jim Spencer, head of books at Hanson’s auction house, emphasized the historical significance of the proof copy, highlighting it as the very inception of the globally renowned Harry Potter phenomenon.
Ultimately, the rare book was sold to a private buyer in the UK for a hammer price of 11,000 pounds, amounting to a total of 14,432 pounds including a sales premium. The remarkable sale underscores the enduring allure and collectibility of J.K. Rowling’s iconic literary masterpiece.
