Unique first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone signed by JK Rowling to the publisher who was ‘first person to see merit’ in the Boy Wizard is set to fetch £90,000 at auction
- Rare book was signed for Bryony Evens, an office manager at a literary agent
- She picked up a three-chapter submission of the book from a manuscript pile
- It will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ sale in London Knightsbridge this week
A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone signed by JK Rowling to the publisher who first put out the book is set to fetch £90,000 at auction.
The rare book, which was sent to literary agent officer manager Bryony Evens, contains a signature heralding her as the ‘first person to see merit’ in Harry Potter and offering ‘huge’ thanks – with the word ‘huge’ underlined four times.
It will go under the hammer at Bonhams Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts & Photographs sale in London’s Knightsbridge on Wednesday 11 March.
The first edition of the book (pictured) will go on sale at Bonhams Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts & Photographs sale in London’s Knightsbridge
It was sent to officer manager Bryony Evens, who worked at a literary agent, and signed when the pair met in 1998
Ms Evens earned the eternal gratitude of Rowling after she picked up a three-chapter submission of Harry Potter from the unsolicited manuscripts pile at literary agent Christopher Little in 1996, and started reading.
She became instantly hooked and ordered a full copy of the book from the then little known Edinburgh-based author.
After the Philosopher’s Stone was rejected by twelve publishers, it was sold to Bloomsbury for £2,500 and published the following year.
Though Ms Evens had left the agency before it was published, she received a copy of the book. In 1998, she queued up for a signature from Rowling, who was then promoting her second book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, at the Cheltenham Literary Festival.
When she introduced herself Rowling leapt up and gave her a huge hug.
She wrote in the signed copy: ‘To Bryony – who is the most important person I have ever met in a signing queue & the first person to see merit in Harry Potter.
‘With huge thanks, J K Rowling.’ The word ‘huge’ has been underlined four times.
JK Rowling is said to be eternally grateful to Ms Evens. She is pictured in New York last year
Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscript Specialist, Luke Batterham, said: ‘This is a truly unique copy of a highly desirable rare first edition of the book that introduced millions of adoring fans to JK Rowling’s wizarding world.
‘Bryony’s story is world famous – she even appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show – and her copy really is a little piece of Harry Potter history.
‘You can sense Rowling’s gratitude, in this inscription, to the person who saved Harry Potter from the rejection pile.’