A rare first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, containing several printing errors, has sold for £302,000, equivalent to around Tk4.92 crore, at an auction in Dallas, Texas, in the United States.
The book was among just 500 hardback copies printed in the first edition of JK Rowling's debut Harry Potter novel in 1997. Its printing mistakes have made it particularly sought-after among collectors.
One error appears on page 53, where the phrase "one wand" is printed twice in a list of items Harry needs for Hogwarts. Rowling's name is also printed as "Joanne Rowling", while the word "Philosopher's" is misspelt as "Philospher's" on the back cover.
Of the 500 original hardback copies, 300 were distributed to schools and libraries, while the remaining 200 went to the author's friends, reviewers and other acquaintances.
The copy was sold by Heritage Auctions, where it attracted far more than the estimated £75,000 before the sale. Strong demand for Harry Potter memorabilia pushed the final price to roughly four times that figure.
A Heritage Auctions spokesperson said the hardback edition was exceptionally rare because only 500 copies were produced, primarily for distribution to public libraries.
Francis Wahlgren, international director of rare books and manuscripts at Heritage Auctions, said Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone remained popular among collectors. He added that the book could attract a new generation of buyers as interest grows ahead of an upcoming television adaptation.
The auction price, however, fell short of the record for a first-edition Harry Potter book. That record stands at £356,000, set in Dallas in December 2021.
More than 120 million copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone have been sold worldwide.
Meanwhile, the BBC is preparing to broadcast a two-part documentary about Rowling, exploring her rise to fame and cultural influence.
The documentary will trace her journey from a struggling single mother in Edinburgh, Scotland, to the creator of one of the best-selling book series of all time.
Its first episode will cover her childhood and rise to literary success, including the story of how the idea for Harry Potter came to her while she was waiting for a delayed train travelling to London's King's Cross station in 1990.
The franchise went on to produce several sequel books, a stage production and a blockbuster film series starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Rowling, 61, whose full name is Joanne Rowling, also wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which inspired a separate film series. HBO is currently developing a new television adaptation of the original Harry Potter books.