Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It's the book that started it all.
Tube trains packed with office workers eagerly, and shamelessly, lapping up the next chapter on the mythical young wizard and his pals.
Teenagers camping outside Waterstones to get their hands on the latest instalment.
Hordes of tourists taking Harry Potter tours around Britain.
The 1997 hardback first edition of the 'Philosopher's Stone' had a print run of just 500, and a good condition copy is arriving at Bloomsbury Auctions' sale of rare children's books in London on April 20.
It has a high end estimate of £3,500 and is said to be "internally a very good copy with less darkening to the page edges than usual".
This item is paired in a lot with a first edition, second issue specimen of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from 1999.
 JK Rowling has written seven Harry Potter books |
The best quality first editions of the original book can sell for large amounts; an unsigned hardback specimen made £10,575 at Sotheby's in 2002 while a signed copy achieved £14,600 in 2010.
Investors looking to acquire their own JK Rowling memorabilia may be interested in this rare, unpublished work by the author, which is currently on sale.
- Click here to view our Books & Manuscripts stock items for sale
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in rare books
- Read all the latest Books & Manuscripts news
Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today
