Are your old Harry Potter books worth anything?

In Philip W. Errington’s new book, J.K. Rowling: A Bibliography 1997-2013, he includes a handy chart for early Potter fans to determine whether any of their beloved copies have financial value. Some fans could be in for a windfall… others, not so much. Does your Harry Potter collection have any value? Read on to find out the basics, and consult Errington’s book for further information.

MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL VALUE

• If the title is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, it was published by Bloomsbury, it’s a hardback, and the cover illustration shows Harry standing by a train.

MAY HAVE SOME COMMERCIAL VALUE

• If the title is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, it was published by Bloomsbury, it’s a softback (in wrappers), and the cover illustration shows Harry standing by a train.
• If the title is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it was published by Bloomsbury, it’s a hardback, and the cover illustration shows Harry and Ron in a flying car.

MAY HAVE SOME VALUE

• If the title is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it was published by Bloomsbury, and it’s a hardback.
• If the title is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, it was published by Scholastic, it’s a hardback, and it’s not the American Book Club edition.

MAY HAVE LITTLE VALUE

• If the title is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, or Prisoner of Azkaban, and it was published by Ted Smart. The value of these copies is increasing, but slight.

MAY HAVE LOW VALUE

• Later titles, from The Goblet of Fire through The Deathly Hallows (books 4-7), were printed in vast numbers, so unless you have a signed copy (lucky you!) or a deluxe edition, commercial value is low. But they still have emotional value to you, and that’s priceless!