A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is set to be put on auction for a whopping £30,000 later this week.
The coveted first instalment in JK Rowling's Wizarding World franchise is highly sought-after by many fans as it is extremely hard to come by these days.
Only 500 copies of the book were originally published - with 300 being sent to school's and children's libraries - making it one of the rarest copies in the world.
This exclusive first-edition is now being sold by a private owner who has been in possession of the book since 1997, reports The Mirror.
It will go on auction through Chiswick Auctions on Thursday, January 27.
According to online book marketplace AbeBooks, there are ways that fans can find out if they own one of the coveted first-edition books.
These extremely rare copies are characterised by a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of "Joanne Rowling" instead of JK.
A collection of children's books will also be going for sale through the auction house, including a signed copy of the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and a signed copy of Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them - both are expected to fetch £700.
US novelist Paul Gallico's library also makes up part of the auction, as his 1968 book Manxmouse has been credited as inspiring JK's Boggarts that appear in the Harry Potter franchise.
The book contains creatures called Clutterbumphs that turn into your worst fear, similar to the Boggart that appears in the Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban movie.
Clive Moss, head of rare books at Chiswick Auctions, said: "The collection is a tangible reminder of a writer whose presence and works continue to [entertain and inspire] us so many years after his death.
"This is a fabulous opportunity to be part of the continuing story that was and is, Paul Gallico - a supreme writer and talent with an enduring quality that never fails to entice and capture our attention."
How to tell if your copy is rare
As Harry Potter books are still in print, the older books that tend to fetch more in value are the ones that offer something slightly different.
Most first editions are worth around £20, depending where you shop, but they could also be worth thousands pounds more.
Matthew Haley of Bonhams Auction House said, "“Bonhams sold a set of first editions of the Harry Potter books in 2005 for £14,400, and on two occasions in 2007 sold copies of The Philosopher’s Stone for £9,000,”
“That first book in the series is worth hugely more than the subsequent volumes, and condition is everything. More recently first editions of the first book in fair condition have sold for around £4,000. Obviously genuine signatures or even better inscriptions by JK Rowling can add tremendously to the value.”
Potter fans are also told to look for different covers, illustrations and large print - all features that are usually found on the rarer versions that tend to no longer be in print.
Where can I sell my books?
AbeBooks is the best place to start as it can tell you how much your copies are worth.
Ebay and Amazon Marketplace have also been known to sell older versions of the novel.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
With only 500 copies originally published, this first-edition can fetch you thousands of pounds.
Look for the print line that reads "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" and the crediting of "Joanne Rowling" not JK.
Standard first editions sell for anything between thousands and £20 depending on their condition and the print run.
You can also get as much as £1,800 for first editions of the 1999 deluxe edition and early versions of the Australian and US print runs (where it's called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone – printed in 1998)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
The second instalment is also another rare first-edition for your book shelves as hardcovers could make four-figures and other early print versions make hundreds – with early versions of the deluxe editions making thousands.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
Due to a printing mistake that credits the author as Joanne Rowling and not JK, this book could be worth around £1,000.
If it's in good condition it can sell for a few hundred pounds, while any version of the deluxe edition makes from £15 for more than £3,000 depending on the edition and the condition.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
There are several versions of the fourth book out there - with the US and UK having different covers on their first editions.
These can sell for several hundred pounds depending on the condition.
A standard first edition copy sells for around £10.
Quidditch Through The Ages/Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001)
If you have a boxed, hardback versions from 2001 it could be worth more than £300, while good condition soft backs are sold for more than £50 as a pair and around £25 each.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
There are many first-editions of this book, due to JK's popularity by the time it was released.
This means that they are worth a lot less than their predecessors, but good quality editions could fetch you anywhere between £50 - £100.
Anything signed by JK herself could fetch you up to four figures.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
First-editions of the sixth book can be sold for as little as £6, depending where you pick up your books.
An illustrated deluxe edition could be worth in the hundreds, while adult cover versions in good condition can fetch more than £100.
A standard edition needs to be pristine to make more than £50.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
Signed first editions of the final book could you fetch you much less than £100, due to the sheer volume of books on the shelves.
In good condition they'll still fetch more than £1,000.
To be worth £100 the book needs to be in excellent condition and feature a less usual cover.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008)
Out of all the books, this is the most expensive in the whole collection, with a hand-written copy fetching £1.95 million at an auction.
These cost £50 at the time, but are now selling for anything between £200 and £1,000.
Standard editions of the hardback versions can also make more than £50 in good condition.
