Watch on Video or Read Below:
We’ve all heard stories of Found Treasures. Some are stories about items sitting around the house and then later realized to be of significant value, like the story of the found Tamerlane in the attic. Others are about something picked up at a thrift store for pennies, and it turns out to be worth thousands of dollars, maybe millions. The stories are endless. The fact is, treasures are out there to find. This MW Series helps bring awareness to those treasures– so You might be the next one to find one!
Episode One: First Editions of Harry Potter
After being rejected multiple times by publishers, JK Rowling finally found a willing publisher for her book, Harry Potter. It was first published in 1997 by Bloomsbury of the UK. Certain first editions of this book have sold for close to $100,000. Just recently, on March 11 (2020), a copy, signed by JK Rowling and with a special inscription, sold for $142,000. How might you know if you have one, or, if you spot one of these treasures?
There were initially 500 copies of the very first edition of Harry Potter published in the UK. Three hundred copies of these went to libraries, and another two hundred went to schools, acquaintances, friends, and family.
One of the first features for this rare copy is the title wasn’t Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as the 1998 USA first edition was titled, but was actually called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
From there, look for these two other identifiable clues inside the cover pages:
*The print line will read 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.
*The book is credited to Joanne Rowling and not J.K. Rowling
Depending on condition, and if signed or not, these copies can go for anywhere from 30,000 and up.
As mentioned, a special signed copy sold for well over $100,000 dollars. But there are many others who have popped up here and there.
In August of 2019, one of the rare copies of 500, in a bit rough condition, sold for $34,000. This one was a discarded library copy and was purchased at a sale for just over one dollar many years before. It sat packed away until it was realized for what it was and auctioned off.
These first editions are also noted to have two typos. On the back cover of the book, Philosopher’s is missing its second O and is spelled Philospher’s. And then inside the book, in Harry’s list of items, ‘1 Wand’ appears twice.
These typos, and name change to JK Rowling (instead of Joanne), were fixed by the USA’s first edition in 1998 was released.
The first editions of USA copies can sell for around $2500 dollars and up- depending on condition and if signed. US first editions can be identified by the following:
*Print line will have 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 8 9/90/0 0102
*Will have- Printed in USA 23 First American edition, October 1998
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone became a 7 book series. Any first editions, or collectible editions, of the series will have considerable value, but those very first editions of the first book, before it was known the series would be so loved, are the Holy Grail of them.
Best of luck with all that you seek! Always treasure the adventure.
.