Bargain Hunt has proved to be a treasure trove for valuable lost items but one of the biggest financial wins saw a 25p book sold for thousands of pounds. Just a few years ago one of the show's fans made headlines when they sold a first-edition Harry Potter book.
The hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was one of just 500 published by Bloomsbury in June 1997. Of the 500 printed, 300 were given to libraries - including the rare edition that was sold on Bargain Hunt in 2020.
The book was bought by an office worker from a jumble sale for just 25p. It then sat on their desk for more than 20 years, according to DevonLive.
It was sold at auction for £28,000 in Staffordshire in 2019. After the sale, the lucky seller said: "I can't believe it. It's what I'd hoped for but I never really believed my book would make that price."
Bargain Hunt regular and auctioneer Charles Hanson knew that they were onto a winner with the super rare first edition hardback, which features a number of mistakes. The word "philosopher" is misspelt on the back cover, whilst a list of equipment required for Hogwarts lists "1 wand" twice.
Mr Spencer said: "I was slightly caught in disbelief when I first saw it. I receive calls every week from people saying they have a first-edition Harry Potter."
Following the auction, Mr Hanson told Bargain Hunt presenter Natasha Raskin Sharp: "All our client wants to do with [the money] is buy a new bathroom. Even now the softback publications, which were first editions, are fetching thousands of pounds.
"But this is a hardback and one of only 500. It's so important in that great history of Harry Potter."
