Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • News / PS/SS

UPDATED: Pristine, First-Edition Copy of “Philosopher’s Stone” Going Up for Auction

by Aly Kirk · October 9, 2019

UPDATE (October 11):

When a first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone went under the hammer on October 10, professionals at Hansons Auctioneers estimated the book would sell for between £25,000 and £30,000 (between US$31,600 and US$38,000). Four phone and several online bidders battled over the book as the selling price climbed steadily higher. Bids continued to roll in and eventually sold to a private buyer in the United Kingdom for £57,040! This pristine first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and another 11 different Harry Potter books all sold for a total of more than £75,000 (just under $95,000).

—

Who would have ever thought a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone would be worth anywhere close to £30,000? Well, that’s what the book experts at Hansons Auctioneers say!

A Lancashire family kept their 1997 first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone locked in a briefcase for safekeeping. When they heard another first edition of the first book sold for £28,500 in July, the family decided to sell their copy. The family gave insight into their decision to sell in a statement they released.

What’s the use of our books lying around in a briefcase when a collector might treasure them?

In July of this year, a copy of the first book of the Harry Potter series that sold for £28,500 (US$34,790.04) was found by auctioneers at a private estate in Staffordshire. The copy was originally purchased about 20 years ago for £1.

The big difference between this newly revealed copy and others that have been found is its pristine condition. Associate director Jim Spencer of Hansons Auctioneers says a copy in better condition probably can’t be found.

I couldn’t believe the condition of it – almost like the day it was made. I can’t imagine a better copy can be found. Only 500 copies of the true first impression hardback were printed, 300 of which were sent to libraries and schools. This new discovery is scarcer than the previous find, which was a former Staffordshire library book. It deserves to fetch much more.

 

 

This copy, along with 11 more assorted first-edition Harry Potter books from the series, will go up for auction on October 10. Officials at Hansons Auctioneers say the whole collection could run for a total of about £40,000 ($48,820.00).

In August this year, a complete set of American first-edition Harry Potter books sold for over $25,000. Four of them were signed by J.K. Rowling as well!

Check out the book list at Hansons Auctioneers that shows what’s going under the hammer tomorrow!

Social:

  • Next story How “Harry Potter” Helped Me With My Anxiety
  • Previous story Time to Get Wicked: “Wizards Unite” and “Hogwarts Mystery” Are Celebrating Dark Arts Month

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

May 2025

Sat, May 24

Jim Broadbent's birthday
Recurs yearly

Horace Slughorn

Sun, May 25

In the early morning hours, Harry and Ron meet Aragog in Forbidden Forest
Recurs yearly

1993

Mon, May 26

Detention in the forest; Quirrell drinks unicorn blood
Recurs yearly

1992

Helena Bonham Carter's birthday
Recurs yearly

Bellatrix Lestrange

Thu, May 29

Ginny is taken into the Chamber of Secrets
Recurs yearly

1993

Harry defeats Tom Riddle and destroys diary
Recurs yearly

1993

Lockhart erases own memory with Ron's wand
Recurs yearly

1993

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released on July 21, 2007, and sold 11 million copies on the first day of its release, becoming the fastest selling book of all time.

Potter History

November 27, 2005 – Tolga Safer, David Heyman, Miranda Richardson, Daniel Radcliffe, Jamie Waylett, Katie Leung, Tiana Benjamin, and Mike Newell are interviewed at the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire NYC red carpet.

Potter Quote

“You are a braver man by far than Igor Karkaroff. You know, I sometimes think we sort too soon. . . .”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.