Hardcover 'Mabeopsaui Dol' Sold for 63.6 Million KRW
Original Cover Illustration of First Edition Also Sold for 2.6 Billion KRW
The first edition of the 1997 novel 'Harry Potter' series written by British author Joanne K. Rowling was sold at auction for ?36,000 (approximately 63.6 million KRW).
On the 27th (local time), the British BBC reported that at a rare book auction held in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, the first edition of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' was sold for ?36,000. This book was made in hardcover, and only 500 copies were published in hardcover when it was first released in 1997. The pre-auction estimate for this book was ?30,000 to ?50,000 (approximately 53 million to 83.3 million KRW).
First edition hardcover of Harry Potter 1 published in 1997 sold for 36,000 pounds. Hanson Auctioneer website
The original title of the first book in the Harry Potter series was 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,' but it was changed to 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' when published in the United States, and it was also introduced as 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' in Korea. Christine McCullough, who put this book up for auction, bought it for ?10 (about 18,000 KRW) at a bookstore in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in 1997 to give to her son. She recalled, "I never thought this book would become so expensive," adding, "Like other children around the world, my son really loved this book." Her son, Adam, said, "We kept this book in the cupboard under the stairs at home all this time," and added, "Now it's time to pass it on so others can enjoy it."
Earlier in June, the original cover illustration of this book was sold at auction for a staggering $1.9 million (approximately 2.63 billion KRW).
The original cover illustration of the first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," painted by Thomas Taylor, was sold for 19 billion won (approximately 2.63 billion KRW) at a Sotheby's auction last June. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
This artwork, drawn by British illustrator Thomas Taylor in 1997, found a new owner after a fierce four-way bidding battle at Sotheby's auction in New York, USA, on June 26.
Sotheby's had expected this illustration to sell for $600,000 (approximately 833 million KRW), the highest price ever for Harry Potter-related merchandise, but it was sold for more than three times the estimated price.
Measuring 401x282 mm, the illustration depicts a young Harry Potter with dark brown hair, round glasses, and a lightning-shaped scar, heading to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from King's Cross Station platform 9¾. Taylor, who was 23 years old at the time, completed the illustration in two days after being commissioned to draw the cover for a new novel by an unknown author. Like the author, Taylor was also unknown and received a fee of ?500 (approximately 879,000 KRW), which he reportedly spent on a new pen and a bottle of Belgian beer.
After this illustration was used in several overseas editions, Taylor negotiated for a higher fee. Eventually, he sold the illustration at a Sotheby's auction in the UK in 2001 for about ?85,750 (approximately 150 million KRW). Upon hearing about the high auction price later, Taylor said, "I'm not upset about missing out on $1.92 million," adding, "I'm just satisfied that I sold it at the right time." He also said, "Harry Potter gave my career a magical start, and I am very grateful for that."
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