A very rare edition of "The Philosopher's Stone" won by a competition winner sold for £8,000 at auction following a year of record sales for first edition copies.
A rare first edition of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'Image: Andrew Matthews/empics/picture alliance
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After a pristine first edition copy of J. K. Rowling's first book, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," sold in March for £69,000 pounds ($85,118, €80,228), a more obscure edition went under the hammer on Friday (16.12.2022).
Released a decade ago, the 15th anniversary edition of the Harry Potter debut was published exclusively for 15 competition winners and is signed and dedicated by author Rowling.
In 2012, publisher Bloomsbury launched a nationwide competition to find the UK's "biggest Harry Potter fan," with entries invited to make their case in 50 words. One lucky winner of the leather-bound edition was then 16-year-old Chloe Esslemont.
Now her book has been sold for £8,000 at auction in the UK.
"I've kept the book wrapped up in the attic for years," said Esslemont. "Everyone was Potter mad when I was at school. I dressed up as Hermione for World Book Day and my nan knitted me a Gryffindor scarf."
At the age of 26, she decided it was time to let go of her most prized Harry Potter possession.
"I still like the Potter books but I won this prize 10 years ago," she said. "It's been gathering dust and the money would be useful now."
Chloe Esslemont's signed special edition copy went under the hammer on December 16Image: Hansons Auctioneers
'The rarest Harry Potter I have ever handled'
The special edition was sold by Hansons Auctioneers, which sell rare books and specializes in sought-after Harry Potter editions.
Hansons' books expert Jim Spencer has built a reputation on his rare Potter finds yet says this book is unique.
"Technically, this is the rarest Harry Potter book I have ever handled — and I have assessed hundreds," he stated on the Hansons website. While copies from among the original 500 hardback copies of "The Philosopher's Stone" from the first-ever print run in 1997 are the most valuable — Spencer has found 18 and sold one near perfect copy for £69,000 in March — "this new find is particularly scarce," he said.
The first of only 15 books specially published to mark Potter's 15th anniversary to be publicly sold, Spencer said he "traveled from the Midlands to Cumbria, right on the border of Scotland, to collect it."
Despite the book's rarity, is it priced lower than a first edition because it is the first ever sold.
"The value is completely unknown. I haven't found another one for sale, or having sold, anywhere. I don't even think there's even a picture of one online," said Spencer before the sale.
The first copy of the very limited 2012 leatherbound anniversary editionImage: Hansons Auctioneers
A bidding war drove a record sale for a Potter first edition in December 2021 of $471,000 in Dallas, Texas.
With bidding beginning at $75,0edi00, the book sale soon broke records.
"And not only is the most expensive Harry Potter book ever sold, it's the most expensive commercially published 20th-century work of fiction ever sold," said Heritage Auction's executive vice president, Joe Maddalena. "This result shows the power of that combination of literature and cinema."
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Harry Potter almost wasn't published
J. K. Rowling's debut was rejected by a dozen publishers before Bloomsbury printed just 500 hardback copies of "Harry Potter: The Philosopher's Stone" in 1997.
Many ended up in public libraries, making it very difficult today to locate first edition copies for potential sale.
But soon Rowling's character became a household name. Over 120 million copies of the book have since been sold.
While those few first editions remain the most valuable, one of 15 leather-bound copies printed in 2012 has joined those prized ranks.
'Harry Potter' cast to reunite for 20th-anniversary TV special
Twenty years after the film's release, stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint will "Return to Hogwarts." We revisit the lucrative Harry Potter franchise.
Image: Peter Mountain/Warner Bros. Pictures/imago images
Smiling at the premiere in 2001
Twenty years after the release of the first "Harry Potter" film, movie studio Warner Bros has announced that a 20th anniversary TV special will be released on HBO on January 1, 2022. In "Return to Hogwarts," cast members, including stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, will reunite to discuss how it all started. Author J.K. Rowling's name was not included in the announcement.
Image: Conran/PA/epa/dpa/picture-alliance
World's most famous wizard
Boy wizard Harry Potter has been with us ever since author J.K. Rowling released the first book in her seven-part series in 1997. The first film adaptation was released in November 2001, with the final movie hitting cinemas a decade later. The film franchise took in some $7.8 billion (€6.9 million) at the global box office, and millions more in merchandising.
Image: Peter Mountain/Warner Bros. Pictures/imago images
The Potter universe expanded
Author J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" spin-offs are all box office hits, but she's also been making headlines for her controversial opinions on transgender issues. Stars of her films, including Eddie Redmayne (l.), have distanced themselves from her views. They are shown here at the premiere of "Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them" in 2016. A sequel is set to be released in April 2022.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Foley
Magical amusements
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park opened in Florida in 2010. More parks have since opened: at Universal Studios Japan, Hollywood and Beijing. They recreate the village of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle. Attractions include "a one-hour exploration experience on an enchanted bench." Technically, that's true — the ride queue takes about an hour. The actual journey lasts only four minutes.
Image: picture alliance/AA/M. N. Eroglu
Shopping paradise
In 2014, the Diagon Alley attraction opened at the other end of the Florida theme park, with the Hogwarts Express train ready to take visitors back and forth. Alongside the Gringotts Wizarding Bank (complete with dragon on the roof), this shopping paradise for wizards and witches offers everything imaginable. Broomsticks can be purchased for a mere $250 (€220).
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M.Gray
Deceptive sweets
The top seller are the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, produced by Jelly Belly, specialists in jelly beans with amazing flavors. A delicious treat? Not necessarily — ever since the first book, it's been clear these beans can also taste pretty disgusting. Some flavors: earthworm, rotten egg, soap, grass — even vomit. But with any luck, you might find something like melon, cotton candy or cherry.
Image: picture-alliance/S. Stache
Pilgrimage site King's Cross
The London train station hides a "secret" access portal to the magical platform 9 3/4, where the Hogwarts Express waits to whisk students away to school. Those who want to make it through need to concentrate and aim their luggage cart directly into the brick wall. It's become a must-see site for Harry Potter fans — though Muggles, or non-magic folk, won't get very far.
Image: AP
Bridge to Hogwarts
This bridge wasn't recreated at the Universal theme park — it's real. It, too, has become a stop on the Harry Potter sightseeing tour, though somewhat off the beaten track in the Scottish Highlands. The Glenfinnan Viaduct was built in the late 19th century and is part of the West Highland Line. The train in the picture, however, is not the Hogwarts Express but The Jacobite, a tourist steam train.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A.Robinson
Staying grounded
Quidditch, a full-contact sport, actually takes place in midair. Players fly about on brooms trying to throw the Quaffle through one of their opponents' three circular gates, while avoiding treacherous Bludgers. The player who manages to catch the elusive Golden Snitch wins the game. Muggles play a version of the game on the ground, as seen here in Bonn. Without magic, of course.
Image: Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn
Even more Potter
While the film stars are now adults, the 2016 two-part play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" also looks into what happened to Harry Potter, two decades after the adventures in the books. He has become Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic and his son, Albus Severus Potter, is about to go to Hogwarts. The play is staged in different cities, including Hamburg.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/C. Gray
Online universe
The Pottermore website is the "digital heart of the magical world," home to everything fans could ever want: a space to interact, with quizzes, puzzles and — of course — an online shop. The 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film will not go unnoticed: "Get ready for weekly celebrations — including online events, special activities and more," says the site.
