To mark the premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore, we’ve put together a list of the most expensive Harry Potter memorabilia that has ever been sold at auction.
From a first edition of The Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter’s famous frames to Sirius Black’s ominous overcoat, these legendary pieces have sold for thousands of pounds at auction across the globe.
Take a look at the top ten most extravagant sales ranked from the most to least expensive below!
1. Tales Of Beedle the Bard (1.9 million)
In top position is the Tales Of Beedle The Bard, a children’s book that is featured in the last movie in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the deathly hallows.
The book was sold to Amazon for £1.9million at auction on December 13th 2007. Individually handwritten and illustrated by J.K Rowling, this book is one of only seven copies!
Amazingly, the money made from this auction was donated to the Children’s Voice charity campaign, which aims to raise awareness and make changes to our planet, and children’s education to help build a positive future for us all.
Image credit: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Sotheby’s
2. First edition copy of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone (£356,629)
In second place is a rare, immaculate condition edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first Harry Potter book, which sold for a world record-breaking $471,000 (£356,000).
This was the highest sum ever paid for a work of fiction published in the twentieth century, no doubt helped by the pristine condition of the book. The very competitive auction took place in Texas in December 2021, and a mystery bidder won the untouched, mint condition copy.
Historically, first editions of books are so valuable because they are the physical manifestation of that particular moment in history in the life of a book.
Moreover, people collect first editions because they come from the very moment in society when the book was first published, read and criticised by the public.
Image credit: Heritage Auctions
3. J.K Rowling’s chair (£283,000)
In 2002, J.K.Rowling auctioned off the chair in which she sat to write Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The author hand designed the chair herself with the phrases: “O, you may not find me pretty but don’t judge on what you see” and “I wrote Harry Potter while sitting on this chair.”
The auction took place at Heritage Auctions in New York in 2022, and the person who purchased the chair chose to remain anonymous.
Image credit: Daily Trust
4. An annotated version of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone (£173,905)
In fourth place is an annotated copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in the book series, published in 1997, before The Chamber of Secrets the following year.
The book was sold in 2013 for a whopping £173,905. The six-figure sale is down to the 20 original drawings and notes on how J.K Rowling invented the adventurous game of Quidditch, which also features in the Harry Potter film series.
Image credit: The Independent
5. A signed first edition of Harry and The Philosopher’s Stone (£127,238)
In fifth place, we have a signed first edition of The Philosopher’s Stone, sold on the 4th of December 2018 (21 years after the book was initially published) at Christie’s in New York.
Interestingly, the first edition sold for 30% less than the annotated version, proving the importance of the more extensive author’s notes in the 2013 sale.
Nevertheless, the rare and collectable item was still worth a small fortune from the first batch of printed copies.
Image credit: Christie’s
6. Original philosophers stone cover illustration (£85,750)
In 2001, a private American collector of antiques sold the beautiful original cover illustration for five figures at Sotheby’s, London.
It is easily recognisable amongst children and adults alike; a signed watercolour depiction of Harry Potter in front of the Hogwart’s Express. This was also Thomas Taylor’s first professional art commission in his career.
J.K Rowling commented that the public’s image of Harry Potter was influenced mainly by the original cover art of the books, and it still holds a great significance in our understanding of the character.
Image credit: BBC News
7. Harry Potters Wand (£32,414)
We have Harry Potter’s wand in seventh place, made for Daniel Radcliffe when filming for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows part one and two. It sold for a small fortune (£32,414) last June in Los Angeles (2021).
It is not surprising that fans would want to get their hands on the wand used in one of the most anxiously awaited battles of the storyline: when Harry duels and defeats Voldemort.
Image credit: Barneby’s
8. Lumos Maxima Charm Bracelet (£20,000)
Lumos Maxima refers to a charm which brings a flash of bright white light from the tip of the wand, seen in the film adaptations to lead Harry’s way in the dark.
J.K Rowling helped create a sterling silver charm bracelet featuring colourful designs from the Harry Potter book series to raise money for her charity in 2013.
The charms include Harry Potter’s bolt of lightning, an iconic Golden Snitch and the sorting hat, which brought Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger together.
Image credit: Sotheby’s
9. Harry’s Glasses (£15,224)
The glasses worn by Daniel Radcliffe for his starring role in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone sold for $20,000 (£15,224) in 2015.
With the recognisable thin silver frame, round lenses and no nose pads, there is no doubt that the lucky buyer of these glasses will be recreating a Harry Potter look of his own!
Image credit: Wales Online
10. Hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (£15,000)
A rare copy of J.K Rowling’s first book in the Harry Potter series sold for £15,000 in Staffordshire this year, despite being filled with doodles from a delighted child.
The find still held its incredible value even after being scribbled on, once again showing the importance of rare finds in the literary world.
Image credit: Manchester Evening News
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