A rare rendition of a Harry Potter book is being auctioned off in Dallas: It's an uncorrected proof copy of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and will be available from Dallas-based Heritage Auctions at their upcoming Historical Platinum auction event in Dallas on July 25.
The book not only represents the first time Harry Potter ever appeared in print, it also includes various misprints that were corrected in later publications, notably the misspelling of J.K. Rowling's name as “J.A Rowling” on the title page. Mistakes such as this make it more valuable.
According to a release, the book’s provenance is a story in itself: In 1997, St. Kenelm’s School of Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire – an English village a few miles from where Downton Abbey and other iconic English media were filmed – purchased it for a mere £1 (approximately $1.27) at a publisher’s book sale. The school kept it in its library until 2002, when it was stored away and forgotten, only to be rediscovered by accident last year.
The proof was then purchased by local business owner Dale Henry.
That "J.A Rowling" is a misspelling.Heritage
“When I first heard of the proof, I was immediately intrigued by both its unique history and its connection to the area – as well as the fact that my wife is a massive Potterhead,” said Henry. “I hope others are similarly compelled, and I see this auction as an opportunity to reinvest in the community during a tough time.”
To get an idea of how much money is at stake: In 2021, a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone fetched $471,000 at auction — and 500 copies were printed of that edition.
The uncorrected proof, one of just 200, is the first time Harry Potter appeared in print. It's one of the earliest Harry Potter pieces, dating back to the 1990s when J.K. Rowling was still unknown.
The book is part of an auction of rare books that features 79 items, including two collections of Christmas books by Charles Dickens dating back to 1843-1848, a 1929 copy of Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, and a 1957 copy of Jack Kerouac's On the Road. The auction also has a number of historical letters by American figures such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.
Pre-bidding for the book will begin on July 1 and run until the hammer date of July 25. Buyers will have the opportunity to bid online until the live auction. During the auction, clients can bid in the room, on the phone, and through Heritage Auctions' online bidding platform, Heritage Live.
