Is My Harry Potter Book Valuable?

So you have a Harry Potter book and you think it might be valuable? But how can you tell if it is worth anything?

Back in 1997, no-one had heard of JK Rowling. Bloomsbury took a huge gamble and published a children's book about magic that no-one else wanted - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

They only published 500 first editions. Three hundred of those disappeared into the British library system. The other 200 were used to spread the word about the Boy Wizard. Those first editions have become the Holy Grail of rare Harry Potter books -- AbeBooks sold one for $36,000 in 2005 -- and they are very scarce.

A journalist on London's Daily Telegraph newspaper interviewed Rowling just after the book was published and then threw away his first edition thinking it was just another kids' book.

Those Philosopher's Stone first editions are hardcovers

The copyright page has a number line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1..... and it credits Joanne Rowling -- not J.K. Rowling.

True first editions of the first four Potter books have regularly sold for four figure prices tags on AbeBooks but this market has tailed off. First editions of the final three Potter books are not worth anything as millions were printed.

AbeBooks has sold 700 of Rowling's books for $200 or more, so what else can make one of her books valuable?

Well -- has JK signed it? In the early days before she became a megastar, she signed lots of books but that changed as she became more successful. During the Harry Potter glory years of 2003 to 2007, a book signed by Rowling could sell for several thousand dollars. A deluxe set of the first six novels signed by the author sold for $16,000 in 2006 on AbeBooks, but again prices for signed Harry Potters are falling.
Since the publication of the Deathly Hallows, any book signed by Rowling at one of her special signings included a holographic sticker to authenticate the signature.

If a Harry Potter book was signed by the illustrator then it also has some value, but the artist's signature does not compare to Rowling's.

There are many Harry Potter books that were printed with upside-down covers and they are mere curiosities. There is also no real market for books signed by members of the movie cast.

You will see book reviews, bookshops, top 10s, rare and beautiful books, tips for book collectors, author profiles and much more. We love books and are glad you do too. AbeBooks is an online marketplace for books. Millions of new, used, rare, and out-of-print books are offered for sale through the AbeBooks websites from thousands of booksellers around the world.

[maenadsdaydream]

Every Harry Potter book is valuable!
They are so EPIC!

[SAkURAYOWA]

I can feel the angry restraint when he said “Imagine that.” 😂

[willlexie]

Mom: "You are an adult! Why you still collect those children book?"
Me: "It worth hundred or thousand dollars!"
Mom: "You wish!"

[TheNightbayne]

I have the original goblet of fire signed by the author herself

[neckbeardthepyromancer]

COME ON! I had TWO first edition half blood princes and ONE deathly hallows!

[AndresBarnett]

does the 5th 6th or 7th hardcover editions worth something?

[ThePadawan]

I have a signed copy of The Deathly Hallows (Danish edition) signed by the author herself and with a holographic sticker. I'm never going to sell it, but I am curious :)

[abebooks]

They have no value as rare books. It's a signed copy or a first edition of The Philosopher's Stone, or nothing I'm afraid.

[TheZarbar]

Hey there, sorry to impose, I just wanted to ask if my philosopher's stone copy would be worth anything, it has the line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the original misprints (1 wand twice, etc), all the right dates (1997) and stuff but it is the Canadian edition. I'm sure it's worth much, much less being the Canadian one but even here I've only seen second printings at best and they are still going for around $200. Any advice? Thanks

[CeyhunTercan]

I purchased an (UK) First Edition ''Half-Blood Prince'' for 9 euro's from someone online? It was still in the plastic and it has a dustjacket. First Edition is also written in the beginning.

[Shinobi]

I've got the 1st 4 books hardcover and inside it reads 1997 copyright Joanne Rowling like you said and also says at the bottom 10 9 8 7. I'm not sure if mine is 1st ed but defiantly 2nd ed if not. The hard covers are mint btw. Who do I contact in selling them?

[karenkingsdon]

I have a full set of Harry Potter Deluxe books, with numbers 10 to 1. I wonder if these 7 books are worth anything, in unread condition

[abebooks]

Prices start at around $200 or 120 pounds depending on where you are.

[abebooks]

These are very common, because the HP books were printed in such huge quantities. They are novelties and have no financial value.

[GeorgeZogra]

Thank you for your very interesting video! I do not have any of these books because I am from Greece but I love Harry Potter very much! I have started reading them in English and the language is very simple.

[PowerofRock]

I had one of the legendary 500!! It may even have been the only one on my island, but I lost it, or (and most likely) my mother threw it out. :(

[vicomtedevalmont]

Went through a long process to verify the validity of my Prisoner of Azkaban (Hardcover Deluxe UK Edition with the green cloth cover), only to find out that while it was a first edition, it was the EIGHTH printing. Joanne Rowling on the copyright page, but 1 0 9 8 at the bottom, and fixed dropped text on page 7. It's still sweet that it's from the original printer in the UK in 1999, but I thought I had a gold mine for a second lol.

[scottyd]

Hello,

I have a hardback copy of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" which has a printing error; after page 576 the story continues from page 513 until page 544 and then jumps back to page 609.

I was wondering whether this could have value?

[melaniemurphyofficial]

Hi there! I stumbled upon this video while researching the value of one of my Harry Potter books. I've got a hard copy Bloomsbury edition of Chamber of Secrets that has fan letters printed at the back, printed in 1998 & with a line reading "30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22"...the front has a circle stating that J.K won the Smarties Award & was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, also the bottom reads 'Inventive and action-packed' - The Bookseller. Is this worth anything? Kind Regards, Melanie!

[michelvanderlinden]

I have 2 first edition books: Halfblood Prince (HC, dutch language), and Deathly Hallows (HC, English). The Halfblood prince doesn't specifically state "First edition", it doesnt state an edition at all but I got it when it just came out (I assume its a first edition). The Deathly Hallows specifically states "First Edition", but it has a paper wrapping around the book (the book cover itself is entirely black). The Halfblood Prince has the dutch cover art, and the Deathly Hallows has the Bloomsbury "adult" cover of the locket of Slytherin.

My fiancé has the first editions (american editions) of books 4 thru 7.

Can we determine the value of the books based on the numbers used in the back? All out books are pretty much in mint (or pristine?) condition. thank you in advance.