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Harry’s Game: Memorabilia from the Harry Potter franchise is notching up a magical amount at auction, says Ivan Macquisten
HARRY’S GAME
20 years on from the release of the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone memorabilia connected to the boy wizard is fetching magical prices, writes Ivan Macquisten
As generations Y and Z grow up, one phenomenon is certain – Harry Potter collectables, now big, are only set to get bigger as the nostalgia among Millennials kicks in. Rare first editions tend to grab most of the headlines, but thanks to the equally phenomenal film franchise, posters, costumes, props, games and other promotional material provide a rich seam to mine for fans and investors alike.
FILM RIGHTS
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first film in the eight-movie series, was released on November 14, 2001, catapulting a 12-year-old Daniel Ratcliffe into superstardom as the pre-teen icon of countless millions (even billions), accompanied by Rupert Grint (then 13) and Emma Watson (then 11).
Released in the United States under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the commercial potential of JK Rowling’s wizard world was already well established, but would go on to generate billions of dollars as it was repurposed to cash in on everything from toys to rucksacks, keyrings to candles and now even face masks.
Above A replica of Hogwarts Castle which encloses the ride Hogwarts Express at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando
Below right Harry Potter main cast-signed 8 x 10in promo photo sold for $1,000 in April 2020. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions HA.com
Licensing rights also extend to activities – undoubtedly the best ride at Universal Studios in Hollywood (I’ve been on it) is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which takes a journey through the fictitious classrooms before soaring over Hogwarts Castle on a digital broomstick.
WORLDWIDE FRANCHISE
A quick check on eBay lists nearly 67,000 derivative Harry Potter Hogwarts products for sale – the Lego sets alone are a rich source of income. In 2016, the entire Harry Potter franchise was estimated at $25bn, just under a third of that coming from box office receipts.
While commercial returns are one thing, when it comes to collecting, what true fans look for – beyond rare and signed editions of the books – are exactly the same thing collectors in any field of rock, pop or entertainment memorabilia want. Namely, autographs, and signed photographs, posters and programmes. As well as costumes and production artwork, there is material from film premieres, or film sets and, of course, top props like a pair of Harry Potter spectacles or wands used on screen. All need to provide a provenance showing the original ownership, outside the production, was sanctioned by the rights holders. This ensures that title has passed properly.
TOP SEVEN
The most sought after is something ultra-rare and as close to the star actors as possible – it’s really the same idea as medieval pilgrims looking for saints’ relics.
Recent sales show that prices for the rarest items can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, but so much material exists that even those on modest budgets will be able to afford something.
In January 2020, the online auction platform Barnebys featured the seven most expensive Harry Potter collectors’ items, which ranged from Harry Potter’s acceptance letter for Hogwarts (£7,000, sold by the Prop Store in 2016); to a pair of screen-worn Harry Potter spectacles featured in the first film ($20,000, sold by California’s Julien’s Auction in 2015); ending with one of seven manuscript copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the Potter spin-off, individually handwritten and illustrated by the author (which sold for £368,750 at Sotheby’s in 2016).
BUDGET OPTIONS
For those who simply want the Harry Potter look, there is a wealth of clothing, scarves and other items in the Gryffindor colours. Despite the mass-produced nature of many of these pieces, ultimately, they are bound to increase in value to a degree as the years go by and surviving examples in good condition dwindle.
Significantly, some really good items are still accessible for prices ranging from just a few hundred pounds to the low thousands.
In 2019, Heritage Auctions sold a Dobby replica display figure from The Chamber of Secrets for $900 (around £675), while a signed 8 x 10in promotional photo of the three main stars, but not in costume, took $1,000 (then about £820) at the same auction house in April 2020.
A year later, a sale at the Surrey auctioneers Ewbank’s Auctions provided a snapshot of the broad range of prices that can be achieved. An uncorrected publisher’s proof copy of the first novel from 1997 took £21,000, against an estimate of £2,000-£4,000, while a production worker’s copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, signed by all the stars, sold for £1,400 against an estimate of £700-£1,000.
The same sale yielded £600 for a dinner menu and wristband celebrating the 2002 premiere of The Chamber of Secrets. Adding to its value were the signatures of the stars (minus Emma Watson) and those of Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart), Oliver Phelps (George Weasley), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and others. The estimate was £300-£500.
Did you know?
It took 10 years, two screenwriters, four directors, four composers, 208 actors, and an army of crew members to complete the Harry Potter series. Together, the films have won three BAFTAs and been nominated for 25 BAFTAs, five Grammys, and 12 Academy Awards.
Above left A signed onesheet IMAX 3D release poster for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sold for $2,125 in 2013. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions HA.com
Above Cliff Wright (British, b.1963) original ink and watercolour cover art for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, sold for $13,750 in April 2015. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions HA.com
Above right The chair on which JK Rowling sat to write her first two books, sold for $394,000 in 2016. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions HA.com
Right Presentation gold snitch, limited edition of around 50 as gifts, sold for $7,000 in 2021. Image courtesy of Prop Store
CHAIR WOMAN
Arguably the best oneoff sale is that of the wooden chair JK Rowling sat on to write her first two Harry Potter novels, starting in 1995.
The author had handpainted the chair for a charity sale at Christie’s in 2002 in aid of the NSPCC, saying that her “nostalgic side is quite sad to see it go, but my back isn’t”.
At that point it sold for $21,000, selling again via eBay in 2009 for a still modest $29,000. But it hit the big time in 2016, when Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles marked up a sale price of $394,000 (then £280,000).
Other recent Heritage Auction sales have included some of the most sought-after props and artwork from the film franchise, with prices soaring into the high tens of thousands of dollars for wands and the low to middle tens of thousands of dollars for other props.
HARRY POTTER’S DOUBLE
Direct from the set of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but still relatively inexpensive, at the same sale was a collection of more than 40 call sheets and an HP3 visitor pass, consigned by Daniel Radcliffe’s double who worked on all of the films; pitched at £80-£120, the lot sold for £170, well within most fans’ budgets.
How rare does a prop have to be to attract value? In June 2021, Prop Store offered a replica of a ‘golden snitch’ (a brass and gold-plated ball used in a game of Quidditch) as an executive gift, to promote Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. They were presented to Warner Brothers executives and VIPs and around 50 were thought to have been made. The estimate was $2,000-$3,000 and the hammer price was $7,000.
Left A selection of Harry Potter trading cards offered as part of Ewbank’s inaugural dedicated auction. Image courtesy of Ewbank’s Auctions
Harry Potter trading cards
Ahead of an inaugural sale of Harry Potter trading cards, Roy Raftery, one of the UK’s specialists, considers the boom in the niche area
In the 1990s, trading cards, once associated purely with sports, became a distinct category of collectable card games, with subjects including Pokémon, cartoons, comic book characters and films – such as Harry Potter.
Until recently, eBay was the main selling platform for such cards but auctions are beginning to get a look-in.
Ewbank’s inaugural trading cards sale includes a series of Harry Potter collecting cards from an extensive singleowner collection of Pokémon, Magic The Gathering and other franchises.
Most are in mint, or close to mint, condition, with many still sealed after being put in storage by the consignor who acquired them as an employee of producers Wizards of the Coast in the late 1990s.
The Harry Potter trading card game was discontinued in 2003, but a number of expensive cards are still in circulation. The best way to describe them is a ‘ghost foil’, as they look nothing like any other Harry Potter card. The front is totally white/silvery shiny and features one of the main characters. They are highly collectable. Harry Potter base set boxes (the first ever set) sell for more than £350 if sealed.
Ewbank’s Auctions recently launched a series of trading cards auctions with the first on August 25, including a number of Harry Potter cards, for more details go to www.ewbankauctions.co.uk
Below right A signed menu to celebrate the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at The Savoy, November 3, 2002, with a ticket and wristband from Radcliffe’s double, sold for £600, double its low estimate. Image courtesy of Ewbank’s Auctions
Collecting Harry Potter
Alastair McCrea, partner at Ewbank’s Auctions, assesses the market for the famous franchise
What do people collect?
There are so many options, but of course budget will determine what people can afford. Some people will collects books, while others may focus on a particular character like Harry or Hermione. Others will just want anything directly connected to the film franchise, preferably something produced in low quantities.
How do prices vary?
The most important distinction to make is between items directly linked to the film productions and massproduced objects inspired by the franchise. The good news for fans is that even pieces directly related to the film productions, such as promotional photos or posters, or ephemera linked to premieres, or even production-linked paperwork such as call sheets remain affordable, with prices starting at under £100.
What about the books?
This is arguably the most active area for serious collectors of Harry Potter, and certainly offers the most opportunities if you have the money. Because the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was not an immediate hit, it meant that the first UK issue, released in June 1997, was quite limited, with only 500 hardcover versions being produced. If you have one of those and it is in good condition, you are very lucky indeed. In July this year, one copy sold for £80,000 at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
POTTER BOOKS: A GUIDE
Harry Potter books remain the most collectable of the entire franchise, but how to know if your dog-eared copy is worth pennies, or a small fortune?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Hardcover, first edition, first printings of this 1997 book have become the ‘holy grail’ for Potter collectors. If you find one in the attic, then you’ve hit the jackpot. Only 500 were published and 300 went to libraries. The main characteristics of a 1997 first edition, first printing are a print line that reads “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” and the crediting of “Joanne Rowling” not JK. A first edition copy signed by JK Rowling set a European record when it sold for £125,000 at Lyon and Turnbull last year.
Paperback first editions of the Philosopher’s Stone are also quite scarce and attract four-figure price-tags – sometimes five figures if in excellent condition.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Published in 1998, prices for hardcover, first edition, first printings go up to £6,500. In 1998, JK Rowling was still a jobbing author rather than a worldwide superstar richer than the queen, so there are a reasonable number of signed first editions available from her book tour signings. Deluxe editions can be priced in four figures if signed. Scholastic’s American first editions are generally priced in three figures but look out for signed copies.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The initial hardcover print run was stopped mid-printing after it was discovered that ‘Joanne Rowling’ rather than ‘JK Rowling’ had been printed on the copyright page. Joanne versions are available for prices starting at around £1,080 and go up to £8,650 for signed pristine copies.
First edition first printings have the number line “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” and a block of misaligned text on page seven. Opinions about the number of copies printed before the errors were spotted vary greatly. However, it seems only a small number came off the press, which greatly enhances its value. The 1999 deluxe editions, with green cloth, are also collectable if they are a first edition (prices go up to £3,600). However, second printings can be picked up for three figures.
Above A slip cased set of Harry Potter books, image courtesy of Hansons
Below right JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, first edition, first issue (one of only 500), London: Bloomsbury, 1997, hardback, sold for £80,000 on July 28, image courtesy of Tennants
Below far right JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, first edition, first issue, London: Bloomsbury, 1998, hardback, sold for £3,500. Image courtesy of Hansons Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
JK’s signature (by book four, she was signing fewer copies) turns any first edition Goblet of Fire into a book with a four-figure price-tag. Look out for the limited editions with original watercolour illustrations by Giles Greenfield (Bloomsbury’s UK edition) and Mary GrandPré (Scholastic’s super rare US edition of only 25 copies). If either illustrator has signed a copy, then prices are again in four-figures. Many buyers are also looking for books accompanied by items such as entrance wristbands or golden tickets from events where JK Rowling conducted a signing. After the Goblet of Fire, these events became increasingly scarce.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Look out for first edition copies signed by JK Rowling at the midnight launch event in Edinburgh on 2003 which achieve four figures. Jason Cockroft illustrated the UK edition while Mary GrandPré illustrated the US version, and while their signatures enhance a book value such copies can be found for as little as £145.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Published in July 2005 to widespread Pottermania, JK’s days of book tours were long gone, so very few signed copies are on the market. A handful are available for prices up to £3,600. Copies signed by illustrator Mary GrandPré can be found for £180 or less. Deluxe first edition, first printings can also be picked up cheaply.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Millions and millions of copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have been published. JK Rowling launched the book at London’s Natural History Museum in 2007. She signed copies of the book that night for 1,700 people who won exclusive tickets to the event. Those 1,700 copies have considerable value now. Prices for signed copies usually start at around £720.
Taken from A Guide to Collecting Harry Potter Books by Abe Books, www.abebooks.co.uk
