Why memorabilia is the perfect antidote to Harry Potter's Hollywood woes

While the boy wizard's 2007 film reports losses of $167m, another asset has gone up 203.8%

Fancy a 'good news' antidote to all the downbeat reports about Harry Potter?

The internet is abuzz with news that, despite being the ninth-grossing film of all time, 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is actually deeply in the red with estimated losses of $167m.

The Order of the Phoenix's debts apparently arose from interest payments on loans and other calculations which are normally left out of a movie's official production budget.

From the reports, it is clear that Hollywood is still more injured from the credit crunch than many people thought.

Yet it isn't all doom and gloom for investors with an interest in the franchise. In contrast, there is also a Harry Potter asset which has risen in value by 203.8% in the past 10 years.

The asset in question is a piece of memorabilia, or an autograph to be exact: the signature of JK Rowling herself, author of the originally Harry Potter books.

The signed edition of JK Rowling's first Harry Potter adventure

According to the industry's PFC40 autograph index, Rowling's signature was worth just £395 back in the year 2000. Today, its value is closer to £1,200.

What's more, as the Harry Potter film franchise (starring Daniel Radcliffe, pictured top right) steadily draws to a close and its stars and Rowling move onto other things, its value will only continue to grow.

A particularly good Rowling autograph to look out for is her signature - ideally alongside an inscription - on the book which started it all, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Luckily for collectors, a superb copy of boy wizard's first book adventure is currently for sale on the market, signed and inscribed by Rowling herself. Her message reads: "To Daniel, JK Rowling."

For more information on this valuable and treasured collection, see our special report here - or visit here for more information on why memorabilia investments are defying the credit crunch.

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