Are you ready for an amazing story of Harry Potter? A rare, uncorrected proof copy of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is now available for bidding. This unique proof includes various misprints that were corrected in later publications, most notably the misspelling of J.K. Rowling’s name as “J.A. Rowling” on the title page. As of July 24, pre-bidding has already raised the price to an impressive $13,000.

The provenance of this book is a captivating story in itself. In 1997, St. Kenelm’s School in Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire—a picturesque English village just a few miles from where Downton Abbey and other iconic English media were filmed—purchased it for a mere £1 (approximately $1.27) at a publisher’s book sale. The school kept this literary treasure in its library until 2002, when it was stored away and forgotten, only to be rediscovered by accident last year.

The proof was then purchased by a local business owner, Dale Henry, with the proceeds benefiting St. Kenelm’s. The funds from the current sale will also be directed back into the community, aiming to help reinvigorate a nearby small town whose tourism-based economy has suffered during Britain’s recent economic downturn.

“When I first heard of the proof, I was immediately intrigued by both its unique history and its connection to the area – as well as the fact that my wife is a massive Potterhead,” said Henry. “I hope others are similarly compelled, and I see this auction as an opportunity to reinvest in the community during a tough time.”

In 2021, a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone fetched $471,000 at auction. Only 500 copies were printed of that edition, making this proof an incredibly rare find.

This auction provides a unique opportunity to own one of the earliest pieces of the magical world of Harry Potter. It takes us back to the 1990s when J.K. Rowling was an unknown, impoverished single mother, and the world had yet to be introduced to and captivated by The Boy Who Lived.

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