First editions of the first three Harry Potter books will be sold at auctioneers, Lyon & Turnbull.
Other books to be sold include a signed first edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale and a complete set of A.A.Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, signed by author Milne and illustrator E.H.Shepard.
The auction of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps and Photographs will take place on 19 June 2024.
Cathy Marsden, Head of Books & Manuscripts at Lyon & Turnbull, said: “A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is an exceptionally rare book to find in any condition, and one in such an excellent condition could well be called the jewel in any Harry Potter collector’s crown.
“The auction also boasts an impressive selection of Rowling’s books, including two copies of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, one signed by J.K. Rowling valued between £4,000 and £6,000, and a rare first impression edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (estimate £3,000 – £4,000).
“Given that much of the writing took place in Edinburgh, it’s fitting that this early and important piece of Harry Potter history will be sold in the capital.
“It’s always exciting to handle first editions of books that have become part of public’s imagination. At the time of publishing, no one could have predicted just how much of a phenomenon the stories and characters featured would become. This auction is crammed full of delights and it will be exciting to see the results.”
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first in Rowling’s boy wizard series, valued at between £40,000 and £60,000, is one of only 500 first edition hardcovers printed in 1997. A small number of copies were produced initially owing to the publisher’s uncertainty about whether or not the book would prove popular. The novel has gone on to sell more than 120 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books in history.
In a triple Potter whammy, the auction also includes two other books in the series, including a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets signed by J.K. Rowling valued between £4,000 and £6,000, and an edition ofHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. All the Harry Potter books being offered for sale are in excellent condition.
Casino Royale, the first novel in Fleming classic James Bond spy series is valued between £30,000 and £50,000. Fleming (1908-1964) wrote the book aged 44 in 1952. It was an instant success and three print runs were commissioned to meet the demand.
It is inscribed by the author to Ion Smeaton Munro (1883- 1970), Fleming’s night editor at Kemsley Newspapers (owner of the Sunday Times), a decorated army officer much in the mould of Bond himself.
The inscription reads: To I.S.M, who’s [sic] staunch keeping of the night watches freed the author for this extra-mural opus, Ian Fleming, April 1953.
Fleming worked in British Naval Intelligence during WW2 and, after his demobilisation in 1945, joined Kemsley Newspapers as foreign manager where he was responsible for managing the group’s networks of correspondents.
Of the four Winnie-the-Pooh books,When We Were Very Young (estimate between £7,000 and £10,000), written by A.A. Milne, during a wet holiday in Wales in 1923, is one of a hundred copies printed on handmade paper and signed by both author and illustrator.
The entire set – with a total value of £15,000 – £22,000 – was acquired new by the vendor’s family and has never previously been offered for sale.
Milne was a playwright before the immense success of his stories about a lovable teddy bear and his young owner, Christopher Robin (based on Milne’s own son, Christopher), overshadowed his previous work.
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