Rare Harry Potter Book up for Auction
Pottermania Casts a Spell at The Estate’s fortnightly sale at Webb’s.
A highly sought-after first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with rare printing identifiers is set to go under the hammer at Webb’s fortnightly online auction The Estate, with an estimated value of $5,000 – $8,000.
In the mysterious world of rare books, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has a few ‘holy grails’ for collectors and this particular copy might just be one: This Bloomsbury first edition book contains two mistakes that were corrected before the end of that first print run, leading to a second ‘state’ and making it a much sought after rarity in the already highly collectable world of Pottermania.
This particular first edition, first state copy of the Prisoner of Azkaban was printed in 1999 when the series was starting to gain momentum. A modest 5,000 (approximately) copies were planned and part way through the first print run a famed mistake (dropped text on page 7) was discovered, leading to a correction and a ‘second state.’ Additionally, the copyright page lists ‘Joanne Rowling’—rather than the now more well-known J. K. Rowling moniker—a rare detail corrected in later copies, adding to the book’s desirability among collectors and book enthusiasts.
Accompanying these key identifiers, the book carries the original ISBN 0 7475 4215 5 and the original retail price of £10.99 on the interior dust jacket.
“I didn’t read many books as a kid,” says the vendor, “and this must have been the first one. I did form an emotional attachment to it!” The sentiment echoing the fact that many children arrived to the world of books thanks to the hugely successful and enduring Potter series.
First edition Harry Potter books, particularly those with printing quirks or errors, continue to captivate collectors worldwide. The first two books in the series—Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets— have already demonstrated immense value in global auction markets, with copies of the former fetching staggering six-figure sums. As Prisoner of Azkaban marked a turning point in the series, introducing darker themes and deepening the mythology of the wizarding world, demand for early copies remains strong.
“With Harry Potter books continuing to grow in collectability, this first edition copy of Prisoner of Azkaban presents a unique opportunity for serious collectors,” says Charlotte Dippie, Specialist, The Estate at Webb’s. “Its rare printing identifiers and well-documented provenance make it an exciting addition to our upcoming sale.”
Since its debut, Harry Potter has enchanted readers of all ages, evolving into a global cultural phenomenon. For book collectors and enthusiasts, a first edition from J.K. Rowling's series is a highly coveted treasure… one from a first ‘state’ before printing mistakes have been corrected constitute an even more valuable rarity. While the value of these editions can vary, many are considered prized collectables. The copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban going up for auction at Webb’s— with all its identifiers and provenance might just put a spell the local market.
The press has taken notice of this magical find, so keep an ear out for RNZ and Newstalk ZB as they chat with our Specialist from The Estate, Charlotte Dippie, about what makes this offering so special.