A rare first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” notable for misprints including the listing of author J.K. Rowling as “Joanne Rowling,” is set to be auctioned tomorrow with a starting price of £64,000 according to the Daily Mail. This edition is part of the initial 500-copy run from 1997, which was largely distributed to libraries and schools, making copies in private hands exceedingly rare and highly sought after by collectors.
Significant errors in this edition include the duplication of ‘one wand’ on a list of required items for Hogwarts found on page 53 and the misspelling of ‘Joanne Rowling’ instead of ‘J.K. Rowling’. The auction, hosted by Bonhams New York, features this book as a prime lot, underlining its value to collectors as the “holy grail” of Harry Potter memorabilia. The book’s significance is bolstered by its pivotal role in launching the Harry Potter series, which has sold over 500 million copies worldwide, spawned six sequels, and led to a successful film series starring Daniel Radcliffe.
The first editions of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” have seen a considerable increase in value over the years, with the world record price for a mint condition first edition reaching £356,000. This auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors to own a piece of literary history.