Signed “Potter” Poster, First Editions, and More Up for Auction

by · December 8, 2019

If you’re a collector of pieces of Potter history, make sure to check out the silent online auction held by Books of Wonder, an independent bookstore in New York City.

Books of Wonder is holding the auction to help raise money to move to a “wonderful new location,” after 15 years at its current store. The seller of new, old, and rare children’s books has been in business for nearly 40 years and has become somewhat of an institution to booklovers in New York City and beyond. Books of Wonder served as inspiration for the children’s bookstore in the movie You’ve Got Mail, and staff even advised the filmmakers on how to re-create an authentic bookstore feel.

 

 

Books of Wonder also has a place in Potter history.

J.K. Rowling has visited the store, speaking at two standing-room-only events in the 1990s. One of the items up for auction is a signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which was signed during Rowling’s second visit to the store. It is also signed by the illustrator of the Scholastic editions, Mary GrandPré, making it an incredible addition to any collection.

 

A signed first edition of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".

A signed first edition of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

 

The Potter items up for auction are listed below:

Most of the Potter items have an auction end date of December 31, and there are multiple copies of each item available. The signed first edition of Prisoner of Azkaban is up for auction until December 20, and there is only one copy available.

 

A reading is magic posted signed by Mary GrandPre.

A “Reading is magic!” poster signed by Mary GrandPré

 

There are also a number of other literary treasures up for auction. Alongside artwork and posters, collectors can bid on a signed copy of A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning, a signed copy of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters, and a faux-leather and navy cloth-bound gift edition of the Chronicles of Narnia series.

Check out all the available items on the Books of Wonder auction website, and if you still have holiday shopping to do, don’t forget to take a look at the store’s collection of old and rare children’s books!