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harry potter books have hit an all time low so now is the time to buy. the prices will rise over time and as a long term investment of 5 years upwards i would consider it sound investment.
i would also suggest the phillip pullman first editions are very good investments and the prices have dropped on them also however, the price is slowly rising as everyone awaits the film northern lights by new line cinema in 2007 when prices of the books will go mad.
with harry potter books it all depends on the book. fortunatly i have dealt in harry potter books for years so know all the various ones and also the errors.with the 1st edition hardback philosophers stone and chamber of secret and prisoner of azkaban the number run should be 10987654321 for a first edition 1st printing. the goblet of fire true 1st editions just state in writing '' first edition''. the uk softback goblet of fire 1st edition will have a number run of 1234567891011121314151617181920 exactly like that. the other softbacks will be 10987654321.
american versions will have different covers and their number runs go upwards like the uk goblet of fire
they normally go 12345678910 , they may not go up to 10 they may just go 1234 or 12 or 1234567 etc. as long as they start with 1 then they will be 1st edition 1st printing.
usa versions are worth far less than uk copies and i would only suggest you buy them if you want a copy of all the versions as they will not increase in value like uk editions.
i have put it simple for you below for reference.
hardbacks
chamber of secret - 10987654321
prisoner of azkaban - 10987654321
philosophers stone - 10987654321
goblet of fire - first edition
order of the phoenix - i think its 135798642 or 24681097531 or 10987654321it will be one of these.
softbacks
chamber of secrets - 10987654321
hilosophers stone - 10987654321
azkaban - 10987654321
goblet of fire - 1234567891011121314151617181920
order of the phoenix - same as the hardback.
the goblet of fire hardback did originally the ones saying '' first edition'' then withdrew them as they usually have an error in them which the publishers changed. they then reprinted them with a 10987654321 number run. please note the true first edition harry potter goblet of fire is the ones which say '' first edition ''
harry potter books are also published in book club version, large print version (usually found in librarys hence usually have library stamps in them ) and by ted smart
ted smart - collectable in themselves they are a type of book club book and they have the number run 10987654321. They say tedsmart on the spine and sometimes are sold as 1st editions by conn artists as they have the first edition number run.They are of course not 1st editions but can have a value in themselves and i have seen them sell for quite good money. they are not anywhere near as valuble as bloomsbury books which is the true publishers.
large print libary books have some long term value and especially if you find them without the library stamps and wear.
a true 1st edition will always be published by bloomsbury , printed by clays (except for a tiny amount of goblet of fire 1st edition hardbacks which were published by a scottish firm and command high prices)
EX library copies are worth 20 % of the price of a mint copy.If a book is selling for 500 mint then an ex library copy will be worth £50. If you can afford it always buy the best for your money as a ex library may increase in value by double or triple it will be the mint ones which will command far higher prices and profit.
i would also suggest the phillip pullman first editions are very good investments and the prices have dropped on them also however, the price is slowly rising as everyone awaits the film northern lights by new line cinema in 2007 when prices of the books will go mad.
with harry potter books it all depends on the book. fortunatly i have dealt in harry potter books for years so know all the various ones and also the errors.with the 1st edition hardback philosophers stone and chamber of secret and prisoner of azkaban the number run should be 10987654321 for a first edition 1st printing. the goblet of fire true 1st editions just state in writing '' first edition''. the uk softback goblet of fire 1st edition will have a number run of 1234567891011121314151617181920 exactly like that. the other softbacks will be 10987654321.
american versions will have different covers and their number runs go upwards like the uk goblet of fire
they normally go 12345678910 , they may not go up to 10 they may just go 1234 or 12 or 1234567 etc. as long as they start with 1 then they will be 1st edition 1st printing.
usa versions are worth far less than uk copies and i would only suggest you buy them if you want a copy of all the versions as they will not increase in value like uk editions.
i have put it simple for you below for reference.
hardbacks
chamber of secret - 10987654321
prisoner of azkaban - 10987654321
philosophers stone - 10987654321
goblet of fire - first edition
order of the phoenix - i think its 135798642 or 24681097531 or 10987654321it will be one of these.
softbacks
chamber of secrets - 10987654321
hilosophers stone - 10987654321
azkaban - 10987654321
goblet of fire - 1234567891011121314151617181920
order of the phoenix - same as the hardback.
the goblet of fire hardback did originally the ones saying '' first edition'' then withdrew them as they usually have an error in them which the publishers changed. they then reprinted them with a 10987654321 number run. please note the true first edition harry potter goblet of fire is the ones which say '' first edition ''
harry potter books are also published in book club version, large print version (usually found in librarys hence usually have library stamps in them ) and by ted smart
ted smart - collectable in themselves they are a type of book club book and they have the number run 10987654321. They say tedsmart on the spine and sometimes are sold as 1st editions by conn artists as they have the first edition number run.They are of course not 1st editions but can have a value in themselves and i have seen them sell for quite good money. they are not anywhere near as valuble as bloomsbury books which is the true publishers.
large print libary books have some long term value and especially if you find them without the library stamps and wear.
a true 1st edition will always be published by bloomsbury , printed by clays (except for a tiny amount of goblet of fire 1st edition hardbacks which were published by a scottish firm and command high prices)
EX library copies are worth 20 % of the price of a mint copy.If a book is selling for 500 mint then an ex library copy will be worth £50. If you can afford it always buy the best for your money as a ex library may increase in value by double or triple it will be the mint ones which will command far higher prices and profit.
Guide created: 21/09/06 (updated 05/07/08)
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