A guide to collecting Harry Potter books

Hardcover first edition, first printings of the 1997 book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, have become the 'Holy Grail' for Potter collectors. If you find one in the attic, you've hit the jackpot. Only 500 were published and 300 went to libraries. The main characteristics of a 1997 first edition first printing are a print line that reads "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" and the crediting of "Joanne Rowling" and not J.K. Prices on AbeBooks vary from $40,000 to $120,000.

A handful of advance proof copies are available from $7,500 to $13,500. Prices for Australian first editions vary between $200 and $2,000. The first editions of the deluxe edition from 1999 are also desirable with prices from $450 to $2,500. Paperback first editions of the Philosopher's Stone are also quite scarce and attract five-figure price-tags even though they are often in poor condition. The copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone that sold for $88,140 in 2023 was a former library book that had been withdrawn and read by library patrons 27 times.

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Published in 1998, the US version of the Philosopher's Stone was oddly re-titled as the Sorcerer's Stone. Prices for first edition first printings go up to around $15,000 if signed by the author - although cheaper copies can be found. US first editions will have the number line of "1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 8 9/9 0/0 01 02," on the copyright page along with "Printed in the U.S.A.23" and "First American edition, October 1998". Prices for later editions in good condition are three figures.

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Published in 1998, prices for hardcover first edition first printings of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets go up to $20,000 if signed by the author. In 1998, J.K. Rowling was still a jobbing author rather than a worldwide superstar richer than King Charles, so there are a reasonable number of signed first editions available from her book tour signings.

Deluxe editions can be priced in four figures if signed. Scholastic's American first editions are generally priced in three figures but look out for signed copies. Australian and Canadian firsts are more cheaply priced.

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The initial hardcover print run of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was stopped mid-printing after it was discovered that 'Joanne Rowling' rather than 'J.K. Rowling' had been printed on the copyright page. First edition first printings will have the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and a block of misaligned text on page seven.

Opinions about the number of copies printed before the errors were spotted vary greatly - however, it seems that only a small number came off the press which greatly enhances its value. The deluxe editions, with green cloth, of 1999 are also collectible if they are a first edition. However, second printings can be picked up for three figures. Look out for Canadian first editions, published by Raincoast.

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J.K.'s signature (by book 4, she was signing fewer copies) turns any first edition of Goblet of Fire into a book with a four-figure price-tag but there are a handful of copies over $5,000. Look out for the limited editions with original watercolor illustrations by Giles Greenfield (Bloomsbury's UK edition) and Mary GrandPré (Scholastic's super rare US edition of only 25 copies).

If either illustrator has signed a copy, then prices are again in four-figures. Many buyers are also looking for books accompanied by items such as entrance wristbands or golden tickets from events where J.K. Rowling has conducted a signing. After the Goblet of Fire, these signing events became increasingly scarce.

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Look out for first edition copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, signed by JK Rowling at the midnight launch event in Edinburgh on 2003 that are going to be priced in four figures.

Jason Cockroft illustrated the UK edition while Mary GrandPré illustrated the US version – their signatures enhance a book's value but such copies can be found for as little as $200.

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Published in July 2005 to widespread Pottermania, J.K.'s days of book tours were long gone so very few signed copies of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince are on the market. A handful are available for prices up to $5,000. Copies signed by illustrator Mary GrandPré can be found for $350 or less. Deluxe first edition first printings can be picked up cheaply. Millions of first editions were printed.

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Millions of first edition copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were published. J.K. Rowling launched the book at London's Natural History Museum in 2007. She signed copies of the book that night for 1,700 people who won exclusive tickets to the event. Those 1,700 copies have considerable value now.

Prices for signed copies usually start around $1000. The most expensive signed Hallows to sell via AbeBooks went for $5,500.

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