Harry Potter First edition , bought for just £10, sells for a fortune | World News

A remarkable first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has been sold for £36,000 (more than Rs 38 lakh) at an auction. The book’s previous owner, Christine McCulloch, had purchased it in 1997 for just £10 from a bookstore in Stratford-upon-Avon as a gift for her son, Adam.
What seemed like an ordinary purchase at the time turned out to be worth thousands three decades later.
Christine reminisced about the day she purchased the book, saying, “We walked into the bookshop, bought it for £10, and Adam loved it. It sparked a fascination that has now become a global phenomenon.”
The first edition, which was auctioned off by Rare Book Auctions in Lichfield, generated considerable interest, ultimately selling for a total of £45,000, including the buyer’s premium, on Wednesday.
According to experts from Hansons Auctioneers, this particular copy is one of only 500 hardback editions from the inaugural print run in 1997, making it highly coveted among collectors.
Before the auction, experts had estimated the book’s value to be between £30,000 and £50,000.
Adam McCulloch, who spent his childhood in Tansley, Derbyshire, shared that the book had been tucked away in a cupboard under the stairs of their former home in Chesterfield, reminiscent of Harry Potter’s initial living conditions in the beloved series.
The family only became aware of the book’s potential worth during the lockdown in 2020, when they stumbled upon articles discussing the value of first editions.
Adam described the book as “unbelievable,” and called the experience a “pinch-yourself moment,” according to the BBC.
And when it came time to sell, Adam felt it was the right decision, allowing another person to experience the magic of the story.
He said, “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,” he added.