First edition Harry Potter books found in skip set to make thousands at auction

A hardback first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – one of only 500 in the first ever print run - and two paperback versions of the same book have been unearthed by Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire.

The hardback has an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 while the two paperbacks have a guide price of £2,000-£3,000 each.

All are due to go under the hammer on May 21 in a bumper Harry Potter-

themed auction.

Hansons’ success with Potter books, which includes the discovery of two other ‘rare as hens’ teeth’ Philosopher’s Stone hardback first editions, which together made £80,000 at auction, has led to many similar finds.

The May sale has 17 Potter auction lots. These include a total of five paperback first editions of Philosopher’s Stone, each worth between £3,000 and £5,000, plus books signed by author JK Rowling.

For example, lot 16 includes copies of Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, both signed by Rowling, estimate £500 to £800.

But the star of the show is the first edition hardback of Philosopher’s Stone, as only 500 were published in 1997 when Harry Potter made its debut.

The book, together with two paperback first editions, would have been lost in landfill but for the actions of a school teacher who couldn’t bear to see them go to waste when she spotted them in a skip where she used to work in 2008.

The seller, a 65-year-old grandmother who did not wish to be named, said: “I love books and reading and it just seemed awful to throw them away, so I picked up about five Harry Potter books.

“I thought they might be useful for my children or grandchildren in the future.

“I took the books home and they ended up in the loft. At the time, I had no idea they were of any value. It was only years later we realised.”

The books will be sold on May 21 in an online-only Harry Potter auction.

To find out more or arrange a free valuation, email [email protected].