This 'Harry Potter' Book Is Worth £30,000 And There's Hundreds More Out There
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You might want to think about sorting through your bookshelves, because one lucky couple are expected to sell their first-edition Harry Potter book for as much as £30,000 at auction.
The rare hardback book - which was one of 500 original copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - is set to go under the hammer today, and book experts have high hopes its owners will rake in the cash.
Released in 1997, the book is said to be in pristine condition, and was originally intended to be kept as a family heirloom.
However, don't get your hopes up about having the same stroke of luck, because the book's owners went above and beyond to keep it good as new.
In fact, they even shut the book away in a code-locked briefcase in their Lancashire home, leaving it completely untouched for decades.
Discussing the exciting news, the couple, who have chosen to remain anonymous, said: "It's been locked away in a briefcase along with a first edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets which is also up for auction.
"The plan was to keep them as family heirlooms, which is why my wife put them in a briefcase. It was to stop the pages turning yellow."
Jim Spencer, of Hansons Auctioneers, said he felt like he was "dealing in smuggled diamonds" when the owners brought the book to be valued.
This is the second first edition of the J.K. Rowling book that the auctioneer has uncovered in a matter of months.
One found in Staffordshire made £28,000 at auction but he believes his latest find could fetch even more due to is condition and scarcity.
He said: "A 1997 first edition hardback of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the holy grail for collectors as so few were printed. To find another one so soon after the July sale has knocked my socks off.
"The owners took such great care of their precious cargo they brought it to me in a briefcase, which they unlocked with a code.
"I couldn't believe the condition of it - almost like the day it was made. I can't imagine a better copy can be found.
"Only 500 copies of the true first impression hardback were printed, 300 of which were sent to libraries and schools.
"This new discovery is scarcer than the previous find, which was a former Staffordshire library book. It deserves to fetch much more."
The book will be auctioned in Etwall, Derbys., alongside 11 more Harry Potter first editions - one signed by J K Rowling.
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Have you got one of the first editions? After hearing how much they're selling for we're just off to quadruple check...
Topics: Harry Potter, Life News, J.K Rowling
