A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, initially purchased for just £10 in 1997, has been sold for an impressive £36,000 at an auction in Staffordshire, UK. Including the buyer's premium, the total amount reached £45,000, as reported by the BBC.

This was bought by Christine McCulloch for her son Adam at a bookstore in Stratford-upon-Avon. The book, as a valuable collector's item, remained unnoticed for nearly three decades.“We went in [the bookshop] and bought it for £10. Adam really loved the book, and it started this sort of fascination, as with so many children all over the world now.”

According to Hansons Auctioneers, the copy was one of the first 500 hardback editions ever printed during the book's debut run in 1997. Experts had estimated its worth between £30,000 and £50,000.

The family, based in Derbyshire, only discovered the value of the book during the 2020 lockdown after reading about first-edition sales. Adam McCulloch, who kept the book stored in a cupboard under the stairs at their Chesterfield home, described the revelation as surreal. “Once we got it verified, it was a bit of a pinch-yourself moment,” he said.

Despite its age, the book has personal charm to it, with tea stains and a dog-eared corner that reflect its history as a well-loved treasure. “In some ways, I think having that bit of a story around it, some tea stains there and a folded over corner here where someone's enjoyed reading it – I think that adds to the magic,” Adam shared.

The legacy of Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series is written by British author J.K. Rowling wrote seven books over a decade. It has been a fantasy for millions since its publication that includes the story of Harry Potter, his friends Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

For the McCulloch family, letting go of the book was the right thing to do. “It’s time for others to appreciate it,” Adam said, as the book transitioned from a family keepsake to a collector's gem.