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Harry Potter proof copy, bought for pennies, sells for more than $13K

Copy bought in 1997 from a shop in south London with 2 other books for a total of 40 pence
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This undated photo issued by Hansons Auctioneers on Monday Feb. 26, 2024, shows a first edition Harry Potter novel. The proof copy of the first Harry Potter novel that was bought for pennies in a second-hand bookshop almost 30 years ago has sold at auction for more than 10,000 pounds, or $12,700. British auctioneers Hanson鈥檚 said Monday Feb. 26, 2024, that the first-edition copy of 鈥淗arry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone,鈥 which states 鈥渦ncorrected proof copy鈥 on the cover, was bought in 1997 from a shop in south London with two other books for a total of 40 pence ($0.50). (Hansons Auctioneers via AP)

A proof copy of the first Harry Potter novel that was bought for pennies in a second-hand bookshop almost 30 years ago has sold at auction for 11,000 pounds ($13,900.)

British auctioneers Hanson鈥檚 said Monday that the first-edition copy of which states 鈥渦ncorrected proof copy鈥 on the cover, was bought in 1997 from a shop in south London with two other books for a total of 40 pence ($0.50.)

The seller, who was not named, picked up the book about the famous boy wizard as a 鈥渢hrow-in鈥 with other titles and didn鈥檛 read it or pay much attention to it for years 鈥 until she read online about the high prices some Potter copies achieved, Hanson鈥檚 said.

The book was sold to a private U.K. buyer on Wednesday for a hammer price of 11,000 pounds, and a total of 14,432 pounds including a sales premium.

Jim Spencer, head of books at the auction house, said the copy鈥檚 inside title page mistakenly stated the author鈥檚 name as 鈥淛 A Rowling鈥 instead of .

鈥淭his book so deserved to do well. This proof copy is where the Harry Potter phenomenon began. This is the very first appearance in print of the first Potter novel,鈥 Spencer said.

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