A first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, with some errors and signed by author J.K. Rowling, is going up for a private sale at Christie’s in London, with the auction house inviting offers starting from $250,000 (£200,000).
The publication is one of 500 hardback copies of the book that were printed in an initial run in 1997. Three hundred of those were sent to libraries.
A rare first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” signed by British author J.K. Rowling. Credit: Henry Nicholls/Reuters
“There were a few things that they seemed to get wrong in the book production,” Mark Wiltshire, a specialist in printed books and co-curator of “The Art of Literature” exhibition, told Reuters.
“On the back cover, for instance, philosophers, which of course is quite a key word… is misspelt ‘philosphers’, that ‘o’ that second ‘o’ is missing. Also on page 53, in the list of items which pupils are asked to take to Hogwarts with them, ‘one wand’ is repeated twice.”
The back cover of a first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by British author J.K. Rowling, will be put up for an upcoming Christie’s auction. Credit: Henry Nicholls/Reuters
While Rowling was unknown at the time, the book about the magical world of witches and wizards went on to become a massive hit around the world, spawning a whole series and a huge film franchise.
“In many ways, this book is the physical manifestation of a magic memory for so many people and that’s what makes it so desirable,” Wiltshire said.
Top image: Rare Books Specialist and curator Mark Wiltshire poses with a rare first edition at Christie’s auction house in London May 31, 2022.