While many Harry Potter fans have several copies of the beloved books in various forms and languages, one fan is selling his rather impressive collection: all 553 first edition copies in 63 languages to be exact. The Times reports tonight that a 33 year old Harry Potter fan who began collecting the first edition novels in a variety of languages back in 2002 will be auctioning off his entire collection on February 28. Bloomsbury Auctions who will be conducting the sale, says “No one has ever amassed such a collection of international editions. There’s no auction precedent for it.” The highly coveted first editions of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling are expected to sell for at least £40,000. UPDATE: The Mirror is reporting that the fan, Tim Toone, has copies of the books including editions in “Braille, Latin and Ancient Greek versions – and there is even a first edition of The Philosopher’s Stone in the obscure language of West Frisian from Holland. Copies were sent to him from countries including India, China and the Faroe Islands and it took nine calls to a publisher in India to get every first edition in Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam and Urdu.The most Mr Toone spent on a book was £4,500. Spookily, the only book missing – a promotional copy of The Chamber of Secrets – is so rare experts doubt it actually exists.”
I presume that he has decided that he is passed Harry Potter books now, which is such a shame as I have the same passion for Harry Potter books as I did when I first began reading them 9 years ago in 1999. Either that or he is in debt from buying the books and now needs the money. I think a Harry Potter library is a great idea. Someone should write to JKRowling and ask if they are going to have one in the Harry Potter World being currently built – it would contain every different kind of Harry Potter in every language it would be so cool! I wish I had £40,000 just to use like that, but like others I am certain that they will probably achieve over £100,000 if not more anyway. Congratulations to who ever buys them as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Very impressive, it certainly takes dedication. My measly collection consists of English, Bulgarian and PS in Welsh. It would be even cooler if some of the money was donated to charity
God, I’d love to have that many Harry Potter books! If I had the money, I would buy them. But then again, if I was rich, i would build an extra room unto my house and set up a HP shrine. I can dream though! I guess I will repeat the obvious and say: Why the Hell would anyone sell a collection like that!
And I’m here just with my seven editions in Brazilian Portuguese and British Deathly Hallows. It’s not fair!
But someday I’ll be rich, and you’ll see…haha
That was my idea. I was going to be him in 20 years but not missing that one book and having them all signed by JK Rowling but never selling them.
Posted by Spencer Silverman on February 18, 2008, 05:14 PM
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Hmm…. anyone else think that we should all put pur pennies together and make a bid? and give the books to contributers? Please? lol
It would be like bidding for that index card with the words from OotP on it oh so many years ago…. But we’re gonna win this time!!
I am very happy with my own ‘first editions’ – not all of them are real first editions, but to me they are the first, for they are the first place I read about Harry’s adventures and that’s enough to me! Who needs all that fancy first edition stuff for all that money? To me it’s what I’ve been through with the book itself that’s important. Sort of my seven little wands… ;-)
"What does this [i]mean[/i], Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently.[br]"It means," said Dumbledore, "that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again."
If only I was a millionnaire…sighs But I want to ask the same question as others here, why is he selling it???