An extremely rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will go on auction this week for £30,000.
The hardback edition of JK Rowling's first book is one of only 500 printed, making it one of the rarest copies in the world, reports The Mirror.
A private owner will be selling their copy which they have been in possession of since it was bought in 1997.
Chiswick Auctions will handle the sale on Thursday.
And with about 300 copies of the book being sent to schools and libraries when it was published in 1997 it means only 200 ended up in the hands of the public.
According to AbeBooks, an online book marketplace specialising in rare books, hardcover first editions of the first Harry Potter book credit Joanne Rowling as opposed to JK and have a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.
The auction house is also selling a signed copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and a signed copy of Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - with both expected to fetch around £700.
US novelist Paul Gallico's library also makes up part of the auction.
Gallico is acknowledged to have inspired JK Rowling's fictional creatures, Boggarts.
In his 1968 book Manxmouse, there are creatures called Clutterbumphs that turn into what the viewer fears most - just like Boggarts.
Clive Moss, head of rare books at Chiswick Auctions, said: "The collection is a tangible reminder of a writer whose presence and works continue to [entertain and inspire] us so many years after his death.
"This is a fabulous opportunity to be part of the continuing story that was and is, Paul Gallico - a supreme writer and talent with an enduring quality that never fails to entice and capture our attention."
What to look for
First editions - especially of the first two books in the series - are worth at least £20 all the way up to thousands of pounds.
Matthew Haley, head of books at auction house Bonhams previously said: "Bonhams sold a set of first editions of the Harry Potter books in 2005 for £14,400, and on two occasions in 2007 sold copies of The Philosopher’s Stone for £9,000
“That first book in the series is worth hugely more than the subsequent volumes, and condition is everything. More recently first editions of the first book in fair condition have sold for around £4,000. Obviously genuine signatures or even better inscriptions by JK Rowling can add tremendously to the value.”
Also look out for rarer versions of the book - ones with different covers, illustrations, large print - anything no longer available.
Where can I sell my books?
AbeBooks is a great place to go and find out what copies like yours are being sold for.
Ebay and Amazon Marketplace also have older editions for sale.
Here is what to look for and what is worth what:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
Hardback copies can sell for thousands of pounds as only 500 were printed.
Look for the print line that reads "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" and the crediting of "Joanne Rowling" not JK.
Standard first editions sell for anything from £20 to thousands of pounds - depending on their condition and print run.
You could get as much as £1,800 for first editions of the 1999 deluxe edition and early versions of the Australian and US print runs.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
Published in 1998, hardcover first editions make four-figures and early print versions make hundreds.
Early versions of the deluxe editions make thousands.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
In early versions of the 1999 book there is a mistake on the copyright page in which Joanne Rowling is printed rather than JK.
If you are in possession of one of these copies it is worth over £1,000.
First editions in good condition sell for a few hundred pounds, while any version of the deluxe edition will make from £15 to more than £3,000 depending on the edition and the condition.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
There are several versions of the fourth book out there - with the US and UK having different covers on their first editions.
These can sell for several hundred pounds depending on the condition.
A standard first edition copy sells for around £10.
Quidditch Through The Ages/Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001)
First released as charity books for Comic Relief, these books have been re-printed many times, with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them even being turned into a film series.
Boxed, hardback versions from 2001 could be worth more than £300, while good condition paperbacks are sold for more than £50 as a pair and around £25 each.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
JK Rowling was a global phenomenon by this point - meaning lots of first editions were printed and because of this they are worth considerably less than earlier versions.
Anything signed by JK Rowling increases the value to four figures and versions signed by the illustrator are worth over £100.
Good condition first editions can fetch up to £50 though.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
First editions sell for as little as £6.
An illustrated deluxe edition could be worth in the hundreds, while adult cover versions in good condition can fetch more than £100.
A standard edition needs to be pristine to make more than £50.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
Signed copies can be found for less than £100 - due to the sheer number on the market.
That being said a good condition signed copy can make more than £1,000.
Excellent condition books with rarer covers can still be worth more than £100.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008)
Surprisingly, this collectable book is the most expensive Harry Potter book ever (a hand written copy went for £1.95 million at auction), anyone who purchased the collector's edition was onto a winner.
At the time, these cost £50, but are now selling for anything between £200 and £1,000.
Standard hardback editions make more than £50 provided they are in good condition.
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