Spellbound book collectors set to fight over $5,700 Harry Potter first edition

A first edition of JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book comes to auction in London next week

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It's the book that started it all.

Tube trains packed with office workers eagerly, and shamelessly, lapping up the next chapter on the mythical young wizard and his pals.

Teenagers camping outside Waterstones to get their hands on the latest instalment.

Hordes of tourists taking Harry Potter tours around Britain.

The 1997 hardback first edition of the 'Philosopher's Stone' had a print run of just 500, and a good condition copy is arriving at Bloomsbury Auctions' sale of rare children's books in London on April 20.

It has a high end estimate of £3,500 and is said to be "internally a very good copy with less darkening to the page edges than usual".

This item is paired in a lot with a first edition, second issue specimen of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from 1999.

JK Rowling has written seven Harry Potter books

The best quality first editions of the original book can sell for large amounts; an unsigned hardback specimen made £10,575 at Sotheby's in 2002 while a signed copy achieved £14,600 in 2010.

Investors looking to acquire their own JK Rowling memorabilia may be interested in this rare, unpublished work by the author, which is currently on sale.

• Click here to view our Books & Manuscripts stock items for sale
• Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in rare books 
• Read all the latest Books & Manuscripts news

Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today or download our free Collectors News app for your iPhone

Recent and related articles...

·  $4,800 cosmetic surgery manual excites collectors with a nose for a bargain | 5 April 2011

A rare 19th century first edition nose surgery book comes to auction on April 6

·  Time to buy a beautiful manuscript: A Book of Hours could sell for $325,000 | 4 April 2011

The illuminated Latin text was once bought at a huge price by the wealthiest man in America

·  Agatha Christie collectibles market to receive Disney film boost | 30 March 2011

Hollywood beauty Jennifer Garner will play Miss Marple in a forthcoming big screen adaptation

·  Page from 'greatest illustrated manuscript ever produced' set for $5m Sotheby's sale | 30 March 2011

An illustrated page from a 16th century Persian manuscript will be auctioned next month

·  For Whom the Bell Tolls: New movie tells the story of Hemingway's inspiration | 24 March 2011

Nicole Kidman will play the great writer's wife Martha Gellhorn in a film which could boost his memorabilia

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Image: Bloomsbury Auctions