First editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone may be worth thousands of dollars thanks to a typo that exists in 500 hardback copies of the first novel in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world series.
As reported by the Independent, the error lies within a passage on page 53 in which “1 wand” is repeated twice in a list of supplies first-year wizards are expected to bring with them to Hogwarts. One book that includes the misprint is even expected to bring in more than $33,000 when it is sold at London’s Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts in November.
“As the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has a special place in the affections of the millions of readers across the world and the proof reading error about the wand in the first edition has, of course, become a treasured piece of Harry Potter arcana,” Matthew Haley, the Head of Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams, told the Independent.
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Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com