Dad’s Rowling in it after sale of 1st edition book

A HARRY Potter book a dad bought to help his children learn English more than 20 years ago has sold for £60,000.

A first-edition hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling, unearthed by Hansons Auctioneers books expert Jim Spencer, doubled its £20,000£30,000 estimate and sparked an international bidding battle.

Four phone bidders competed against internet bidders for the rare book - one of only 500 in the first Potter print-run in 1997. The hammer price was £60,000 but the total paid, with buyer’s premium, by a private international buyer was £75,000.

The owner was stunned to discover he had the “seriously scarce” Potter er book as it had been on a shelf elf for around 21 years when he randomly checked it.

The retired British expat, , who worked in aviation and lives in Luxembourg, , said: “A couple le of months ago when

JKR bounced d into the main news, ws, I decided to re-read e-read the Potter series. eries. I knew there had been a few first editions sold recently.

“I I did not think mine would be as valuable as it was was. I was surprised and shocked to see that it did in fact tick al all the boxes. “I am absolutely delighted with the fantastic price achieved. I think the rarity of the book, the enthusiasm of Jim Spencer and the genius of JK Rowling all contributed to such a great result. The Harry Potter books are in the very top tier of literature for children and this first edition can only increase in value in the future.”

Jim said: “I’m absolutely thrilled it achieved such an outstanding price. I hoped it would make £50,000. It’s the highest price paid at Hansons for a hardback first edition of Philosopher’s Stone. It’s the fourth I have found in just over a year. The first one, a former library book bought for £1, made £28,500.”