Antiques Roadshow viewers shocked over mind-blowing price of battered Harry Potter books

Virgin Radio

23 May 2022, 12:35

Got any old Harry Potter books lying around? You might want to dig them out. Fans of the Antiques Roadshow were left stunned as worn-out old books were given a rather hefty price tag.

One copy of the Philosopher's Stone with the cover falling off and a copy of The Chamber of Secrets together were valued at £5,000.

Unimpressed antiques expert Justin Croft told guest Helen initially: "These are possibly the worst condition I've seen on the Roadshow."

He soon changed his mind upon discovering the Chamber of Secrets was a first-edition and had a special something inside.

Owner Helen explained: "Growing up, Harry Potter meant an awful lot to me and my family.

"The Harry Potter paperback I have there I was given in my stocking one year for Christmas and when I started reading it I couldn't put it down.

"When the second book came out JK Rowling came to the Edinburgh book festival and she did a signing afterwards. She signed it for me."

The special message from the Harry Potter author which read: "To Helen - This is the condition I like to see my books in! (Read)."

Expert Justin said: "I think I would say £1,000 to £1,500 on this which is really just for the inscription."

Talking about the second book, he added: "And this, being a first edition albeit without the dust jacket, £3,000 to £3,500."

Helen gasped: "Thank you very much."

Twitter users commented: "A Harry Potter book, no matter how valuable.. is not an antique. Cannot believe *just how* valuable signed Harry Potter books are. Astonishing."

A second added: "On the Antiques Roadshow last night someone brought two Harry Potter books along. The BBC could have ignored them instead they talked about them and gave a valuation (worth thousands as signed with a personal message)."