A copy of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone which cost 50p from a charity shop and was covered in children's doodles has sold for £15,500 at auction.
The owner found the tatty book in a box in a charity shop in Manchester in November and took it to an auctioneer who discovered it was a rare first edition.
It had been expected to fetch between £2,000 to £3,000 but smashed its estimate today (Wed) to sell for more than five times the amount.
But a copy of the same book, this one kept in pristine condition for 25 years by a collector, fetched almost five times the price at the same auction, selling for a whopping £69,000.
The first seller, a Manchester businessman who wishes to remain anonymous, wasn’t upset though, he said: “I didn’t realise it was a first edition when I bought it.
“I just spotted the back cover with the image of the wizard and thought it looked interesting.
“It was only 50p. I found it in one of those traditional charity shops packed with boxes.
“Around Christmas time, I decided to contact Hansons Auctioneers to check whether it was a first edition.
“They confirmed that it was - a nice surprise to say the least.”
The other, pristine copy, which sold for nearly £70,000, was bought by a retired paper merchant director, aged 68, from West Sussex, for £12.99.
He said he nearly threw it away at one point, explaining: "It didn't have a dust jacket and I thought it should.
"I was really disappointed when I went to pick it up. I'm a collector and, being a first edition, I expected it to have one.
"I decided to keep the book on the toss of a coin. It was a moment of destiny.
"I remember standing in the doorway debating whether to keep it.
"I took it home and tucked it away in darkness on a high book shelf to keep it from prying eyes but, more importantly, because the paper in the book is poor quality.”
But his gamble paid off; the book, one of only 500 ever printed, remained in "as-good-as-new" condition.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said previously: "It could well be the most pristine hardback first issue of Philosopher's Stone ever offered at auction."
Book expert Jim Spencer said previously: “In essence, we have two first issue hardbacks - one carefully preserved and unread, the other thoroughly enjoyed and read to death.
"When it comes to condition, we're looking at two very different books. One is like new, as good as it gets.
“The other has been read until it broke, enjoyed countless times, even joyfully illustrated by its young fan.
“I suppose it’s a lesson in what not to do with a Harry Potter first edition – don’t scribble all over it then give it away.
“But the people who originally owned it would have had no idea of its potential value today. It was bought for a child to enjoy and love."
The Harry Potter novel which fetched £69,000 was sold to an online bidder in the USA.
Speaking after the sale at Bishton Hall, in Staffordshire, the seller said: "I’m very pleased with the result.
"Though it was a very good copy, the book wasn’t quite perfect.
"It won’t pay off my mortgage but it will go a long way towards it.”
Jim Spencer, books expert at Hansons, added: “I’m delighted for our vendor.
"It’s certainly a good return for the £12.99 he paid for the book – and he nearly asked for his money back because he thought it had a fatal flaw.”
The shabby Harry Potter first edition covered in doodles which fetched £15,500 was also sold to a private online bidder in the USA.
The seller said: "I am astounded. I know it’s a piece of modern history but the result is extraordinary."
Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: “What a battle for the battered and bruised Potter.
"We’re calling it the Mancunian Potter because it was found in a charity shop in the city.
“In my opinion, it deserves to be in a museum.
"Those doodles, penned by a child who loved the book and its characters, encapsulate the power of the Potter phenomenon. It really is quite charming.
"I’m absolutely delighted for the seller – and the buyer who has purchased a piece of book history.”
Book expert Jim Spencer added: “The battered Potter earned our client an incredible return on a 50p investment.
"Plus, it gives people hope – those Potter first editions are still out there, keep looking.
“The first hardback first issue of Philosopher’s Stone I uncovered for Hansons was bought for £1 at a table top sale in Staffordshire.
"This 50p Manchester find is the biggest bargain yet.”
