Rare 'Harry Potter' First Edition Sells for $69,000, Making Lucky Finder a Fortune

A first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, purchased for £10 ($12.50) by a Scottish woman during a family trip 26 years ago, has been sold at auction for over £55,000 ($69,000). The well-preserved book, featuring the original artwork and a quote from Wendy Cooling, was one of the 200 copies that went to bookshops out of the 500 first edition hardbacks printed. The seller stored the book in a cupboard under the stairs, reminiscent of the story's protagonist, and decided to sell it after learning about the rarity of first editions.