Rare first edition of Harry Potter book, one of only 500 copies printed, sells for Rs 11 lakh

The book was a part of 300 copies that were sent to libraries. This particular copy was bought for 30 pence (Rs 30.88) by a collector in Staffordshire, UK, who died earlier this year. The winning bid, which was well above its estimated value of $3,800 to $6,400, came online from Los Angeles, said auctioneer Richard Winterton, who is based in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

 

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“I literally have this same book at home,” commented an Instagram user. “What is rare about this book particularly,” another asked. “When the book was first released the publishers didn’t think it would be popular so they only printed 500, this is one of the original 500. Two hundred of those were sold and the other three hundred were given to libraries in an attempt to up readership and spread popularity by word of mouth. It worked!” a netizen explained.

“The book is so special because here Harry is already wearing a gryffindor scarf while boarding the Hogwarts Express for the first time. So he isn’t sorted into his house yet,” another user said. “That’s rare? What do you mean? I have seen those in my school Library for years….only if i knew that back then, I’d have nicked a book,” wrote another netizen.