Rare first edition of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone is expected to fetch £20,000 at auction… all because of a TYPO
Take a peek in your cupboards! There's 500 of them
FIRST editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are selling for a fortune… all because they contain a small error.
Early copies of the first novel in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series are expected to sell for around £20,000 at auction.
It’s estimated that there are around 500 of these rare hardback books in circulation.
This makes up a minute proportion of the 400 million copies sold in the Harry Potter series globally since 1997.
Each copy has a small error on the 53rd page, which describes a list of supplies that wizards are expected to bring to Hogwarts.
The magical paraphernalia that features on the list includes a cauldron, telescope and a set of brass scales.
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that there is a repetition of the phrase “1 wand” in the list.
In November, one of the rare editions will be flogged of at Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts in London.
Bonhams' Head of Books and Manuscripts Matthew Haley said: "As the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has a special place in the affections of the millions of readers across the world and the proof reading error about the wand in the first edition has, of course, become a treasured piece of Harry Potter arcana.
"Like most enduring books aimed at younger readers, the Harry Potter books also have wide appeal to adults and there is a strong market among collectors for first editions.
"This copy is in excellent condition - one of the very best I've seen - and we're expecting a lot of interest."
It’s not just these editions that are in high demand, as tickets and books for Harry Potter and The Cursed Child have been selling like hot cakes.
Incredibly, a staggering 680,000 copies were sold following the release on July 31st.