The Yak Shack Forum

I have been a fan of Harry Potter for a while now and have never really got into collecting the actual books (beyond the hammered books that I bought to read)  Can anyone give me some pointers as to which ones are a good investment.  I don't want to spend a ton of money, but I would like a nice version of each book for my collection.  I do live in the US, but would almost prefer the UK versions, but am open to any suggestions.

The cloth bound gilt edged ones are really nice - they come in a case that will hold the 5 that have been released. I'm waiting for the release of all 7 and I will buy the set.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2227&item=6966491610&rd=1

As far as collectibles - I'm not an expert by far, but I know that the holy grail is a first edition UK (not AUS) edition of The Philosophers Stone of which there were only 500 printed (300 hardback, 200 paperback). The author is referred to as Joanne Rowling rather than JK, the pic on the back is different. But the prices... well... this is a pretty tatty copy - imagine the price for a mint copy :o

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=90962&item=6966981775&rd=1

Here's a nicer copy:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29223&item=6543383573&rd=1

Any first editions I guess are worth more... I'm pretty sure the UK editions are worth the most. And of course a genuine JKR signature on any HP book pushes the value up even further.

I just buy the normal release books but I am looking for the leather bound POA. Sorry, no help :-\

Value-wise Zach you want to be collecting first edition first print harback Bloomsbury books - they have the figures 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 inside the front cover for Phil Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Azkaban for both paper and hardback versions. Goblet and OOTP (in hard back) say FIRST EDITION inside the front cover (for the first printing) and the paperbacks say something like 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (obviously losing the one from the end when they go to the second printing etc).

What do those usually go for?

TOO MUCH!  :P

Chris :D

Not very many Philosophers Stone 1/1 first prints make it to Ebay...

http://search-completed.ebay.com/potter-1st-ed-1st-edition-first-editions-first-ed-first-edition-first-editions_W0QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfisZ2QQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPostalQQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsadisZ200QQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsatitleZpotterQ20Q281stQ20edQ2cQ201stQ20editionQ2cQ20firstQ20editionsQ20firstQ20edQ2cQ20firstQ20editionQ2cQ20firstQ20editionsQ29QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZso

I think only the $25 000 one at the top is the only one. There's also a few 1/1 3rd prints there, these are substantially cheaper, but still a pretty penny :o

I'm in the UK and now have three US additions ;) which is interetsing to see the other versions. But they are not worth mega bucks. I have a boxed set of 1-4 of the specially additions. But I can't afford number 5 because they are really expensive but georgous. Just be warned that JK mentions on her site that there are many forged copies which she hasn't actually signed. As it goes on the first additions are going to be worth less because they are printing more. I have a first addition of 'Phoenix' but imagine how many they printed and its going to be even more this time.  :o

I took my time and collected first print first editions of the paperbacks.

The PS was the hardest (obviously) it took me about a year to find a CoS but the PS took much longer because apparently a lot of people have ripped these out of their paper binding and bound it in leather - nasssty!

along the way I've also picked up a Ted Smart second print first edition Phil Stone with a very cool picture of a "different" Dumbledore on the back - this is the same Dumbledore as in the first and second print Bloomsbury editions which I'm proud of as it's pretty cool.

Yeah the "deluxe" editions are great, I have those too :P if you just want a nice looking set of the books for your bookcase this is the way to go.

If you wanted to try to get the first prints of those you might be out of luck too ;) in this case the PoA was the one printed first and has some mistakes in it so that one's the toughie, followed by PS, CS, GOF and OOTP

Note - Ted Smart is a book club in the UK.

I know quite a lot about these as I used to trawl ebay trying to find "the right thing" although it took ages. Not to mention all the "first editions 99th printing" rubbish auctions you have to trawl through.

So maybe we should note the types here. I'll do the British ones, and if someone could cover the American ones and anywhere else then that would be awesome - do the Aussies get the same as us?

Hardback bloomsbury - the original and best

Paperback or softback Bloomsbury - just the same as the HB with all the same artwork just a little more fragile

Adult edition (available in paperback and hardback) - dark looking covers - pretty rare in their early print forms.

Deluxe editions - cloth backs with a nice silk bookmark included - not available on release but available a few months after.

Ted Smart editions (similar artwork to the Bloomsbury excepting PS)

Any others guys?

Don't forget the adult additions have changed I like the newer ones better. Also the Deluxe additions have gold pages edges ;D

I think you've got it there in a nutshell Roz! Bloomsbury also do a 'movie release' version of each book as each movie comes out, but I guess that is classified under Bloomsbury paperbacks as well.

I've never seen them ???

I was just on ebay and spotted them, I was on my way over here to make up what I had forgotten :D

Yes they've done "celebratory editions" only available in paperback to release around the time of the movies - the same artwork but with a glossy cover and with gold/silver etc shiney stars on the front. [the Bloomsbury standard paperbacks are matt].

I have some first prints of the PS and CS movie prints  left over actually back at my parents house along with my collection.

For anyone interested in seeing the "other Dubledore" artwork should try here

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/t-shirt/ddf3950d.jpg

I'll take a pic of my own if the owner of that website doesn't like us viewing it :)

Isn't that just a young Dumbledore  :-\