The novels have been translated into 80 languages, sold over 500 million copies, and made into 8 blockbuster films. In seven extraordinary books published over ten years, Harry’s story became a massive worldwide bestseller, breaking all records and winning the devotion of legions of fans. Rowling’s first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was published in 1997. Especially as it becomes clear quite how different from them he is.Īs his eleventh birthday arrives, the time comes for Harry Potter to discover the truth about his magical beginnings – and embark on the enthralling, unmissable adventure that will lead him to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, his true friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, powerful secrets and a destiny he cannot avoid. But ten years later, Harry Potter sleeps in a cupboard under the stairs, and the Dursleys – Vernon, Petunia and their son Dudley – don’t exactly treat him like one of the family. They might have thought that his aunt and uncle would look after him kindly.
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It starts with Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid leaving a baby boy, with a tuft of jet-black hair and a curiously shaped wound on his brow, on the doorstep of number four, Privet Drive. (From Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) Most went to libraries where their condition deteriorated.'He’ll be famous – a legend – I wouldn’t be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in future – there will be books written about Harry – every child in our world will know his name!' Just over 5,000 paperbacks were printed in the first run of the JK Rowling book, and only 500 hardbacks. The two copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone books are thought to be the only first editions currently on sale. “They can sell for more than a first edition from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and now have similar value to Charles Darwin’s Origins of the Species.” “The value of first edition Harry Potters has become very high very quickly and continues to climb,” said Chandray. A younger Dumbledore is a feature of earlier editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Not all of these made it into the film version of Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone, of course, as many moments had to be cut to make the film a reasonable length.
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#1st harry potter book series#
While they might seem pricey to the typical Harry Potter fan, the books could be considered an investment. The first book in the Harry Potter series may seem the simplest, but it includes plenty of tiny details that act as foreshadowing, character development, and tiny hints as to whats to come. The books, which will not be stored at the bookshop for security reasons,were tracked down by St Mary’s book dealer Chandray Roux and shop owner Marcus Tyers, who specialises in Harry Potters, Ian Fleming novels, and Wisden cricketers’ almanacks. The paperback first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and dust coverĪ hardback first edition, also on sale at the shop, is priced £95,000. The copy, once £4.99, is on sale with St Mary’s Books, the antiquarian bookshop in St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, with a rather hefty price tag of £12,500. It is a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and it is in remarkably good shape for something presumably thumbed by a young muggle back in 1997, before films, fame and merchandise deals made Harry Potter a multi-million pound enterprise. At first glance it could be a children’s paperback found in any charity shop, but this copy of Harry Potter is a spellbinding find for book collectors.