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.”
This is cummpleetleee off topic, but I love how all of us harry potter fans are loyal to J.K. Rowling and the books itself. I adore this. Thank you, all loyal Harry Potter people. Long live Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling!!!
Posted by Elesmeara of Nevermore on February 18, 2008, 10:59 PM
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It’s amazing – 553 first edition Harry Potter books in 63 languages ! I’m from Poland and I collect world’s edition of Harry Potter – I have HP in polish, english (UK), english (USA), french, german, chinese, japanese, ukrainian, russian, italian, spanish, swedish, latin, irish and norwegian. I’m waiting for editions in czech, slovak and urdu :-)
Best wishes !
What is “obscure” about Frisian? I would assume that especially native speakers of English would know more about the roots of their own language. BIg surprise… Frisian acounts for a large chunk of YOUR grammar and vocab.
Sorry, but I really had to vent about this one. Seemed very narrow-minded to me, anyways.
What would you do with all those books? I love HP as much as the next person but if I had 80,000 there would be no way I would by over 5 hundred HP books! Maybe if I was a billionaire! However if I had all those books I would defo sell them, as long as I have every book in the series thats all I need (in fact I think in all honesty thats all most people need).
I agree with the sentiments of many – why collect then sell? A cynical ‘cash in now’ perhaps?
And no, Lutece, Frisian is not obscure. No more than Galician, anyway (I have PoA in Galician – my brother speaks it so he gave it to me for Christmas!) – and I gave PS to my niece’s fiance in Welsh…. And I have a few in German, the set in French, another in LA Spanish ….. But they’re not even published in Scottish Gaelic, so Frisian is hardly obscure!! (Shame on the publishers, that’s what I say – how will I ever improve my Gaelic without HP?)
I started reading HP when I was 12, in (holy cow) 1998 (before Chamber and Azkaban were even out). I think if I had asked my parents, upon each release of the books, to purchase each book in every language possible, I would have been laughed at.
Though I think it’s a killer idea. I’m striving for a first edition of my very favorite book of all time (it’s non HP so I won’t go there)... but its so crazy expensive. I love the idea of it though. I have first editions of HP 3-7 I just need to find first editions of HP 1 and 2 and I’m goooold.
There was a terrible snarling noise. Lupin's head was lengthening. So was his body. His shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting visibly on his face and hands, which were curling into clawed paws.
WOW. they must weigh a lot.