Harry Potter first edition worth £10,000 gifted to charity shop

A rare Harry Potter book donated to a charity shop on the Isle of Wight could fetch up to £10,000 at auction.

Staff at the RSPCA shop have no idea who gifted the first edition copy of The Philosopher's Stone.

Rebecca Busby, fundraising officer at the RSPCA branch, said: "One of our volunteers, who is an avid Harry Potter fan and book enthusiast, checked for all the well known markers and noticed this book had them all.

"She called me and I could hear her excitement."

The book, which is said to be in exceptional condition, will raise funds for the RSPCA Isle of Wight branch.

Among the beneficiaries will be the aptly named dog Harry, who is in need of a new home.

Books expert Jim Spencer of Hansons Auctioneers said: "This book represents the beginning of the Harry Potter phenomenon.

"Not many paperbacks published in the 1990s have the potential to fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

"Nobody predicted the huge popularity of Harry Potter, so these books were printed on cheap paper stock.

"This, coupled with the fact it’s a children’s book, means most examples are in very poor condition.

"This one is exceptional. The only minor flaws are a couple of lightly folded corners and the usual light browning to page edges, which is in fact a reassuring sign due to the cheap paper that was used. I’d be worried if the pages didn’t have this slight discolouration."

The book will go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Staffordshire on 26 February.

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