A rare uncorrected book proof of J.K. Rowling will be up for auction at Heritage Auctions. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" will be up for auction in Dallas at the forthcoming Historical Platinum Signature sale. This proof, one of just 200 copies produced, is the earliest printed version of the story.
The proof bears the misspelling "J. A Rowling" on the title page. This mistake was corrected in later editions. The proof exhibits wear, with soiled wrappers, creases, scuffs, and stains. In 2021, the first edition of the novel sold for $471,000 at Heritage Auctions. Francis Wahlgren, Heritage Auctions' international director of rare books and manuscripts, emphasized that copies featuring an original mock-up of the illustrated boards command substantially higher prices than those without, typically fetching about $18,000 for copies lacking this feature.
In addition to the proof, the auction will feature a rare hardcover first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," limited to 500 copies, also known for its printing errors. With misprints such as "Philospher's" and "Wizardry and Witchcraft," this edition is expected to command close to six figures due to its rarity and the pristine condition of the copy being auctioned.
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The proof copy was initially purchased at a publisher's sale for £1 ($1.27) in 1997, the book's initial release, before it gained global fame. Acquired by St. Kenelm's School in Oxfordshire, it remained in their possession until it was sold to local business owner Dale Henry in 2002. The exact amount of this sale remains undisclosed.
The proceeds of this rare proof's impending sale will also go toward supporting the community and carrying on Henry's tradition of community service. Henry stated that his reasons for taking part in the auction were community- and personally-driven. He mentioned his wife's strong interest in the "Harry Potter" books, the proof's unique historical relevance, and its connections to the locality.
During an auction at Sotheby's in New York on June 26, a watercolor illustration by Thomas Taylor for the cover of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" shattered previous records, fetching $1.9 million (£1.5 million). It is now the highest-priced "Harry Potter" auction item. The competitive bidding lasted nearly 10 minutes and involved four active bidders.
The item was estimated to be worth $400,000 to $600,000. Sotheby's noted that this estimate represents the highest ever placed on any "Harry Potter"-related work before a sale. The artwork was auctioned initially in 2001 at Sotheby's London when only the first four books in the series had been published.
Scheduled for July 25 at the Historical Platinum auction in Dallas, bidding will commence in-person and online through Heritage Live, offering potential buyers multiple avenues to participate.
The auction will provide a fresh assessment of the market for these rare books, known for their scarcity and collectibility. Recent auctions in 2022 have seen editions of the book without errors commanding offers of $250,000, underscoring the varying valuations based on the edition's condition and completeness.
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