A hugely sought after first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will go on auction for £30,000 this week.
According to Mirror, the edition of JK Rowling’s very first book is one of just 500 ever printed, making it one of the rarest copies in the world.
The report adds that around 300 prints were sent to schools and children’s libraries when published in 1997 – meaning just 200 are in the hands of the public.
The first edition copy is being sold by a private owner who has been in possession of the book since it was bought in 1997.
It will be sold through Chiswick Auctions on Thursday.
According to online book marketplace AbeBooks, which specialises in rare books, hardcover first editions of the first Harry Potter book are characterised by a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of “Joanne Rowling” instead of JK.
The auction house is also selling a collection of children’s books including a signed copy of the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and a signed copy of Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them , both of which are set to fetch around £700.
The library of US novelist Paul Gallico also makes up part of the auction.
The writer, best known for The Snow Goose and The Poseidon Adventure, is acknowledged to have inspired JK Rowling’s fictional creatures, Boggarts, and helped make James Bond an international success through his friendship with Ian Fleming.
