A SIGNED first edition of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone has sold for £150,000 at auction. The one-of-a-kind copy contains handwritten notes by the author, a 43-page commentary and 22 original illustrations. The book, published in 1997 and which went on to give Rowling worldwide fame and millions in the bank, was sold to a telephone bidder. A copy of Roald Dahl’s Matilda featuring new illustrations from Quentin Blake was the second highest sale at Sotheby’s in central London, fetching £30,000. Other highlights included Kazuo Ishiguro’s Remains Of The Day, selling for £18,000, and Julian Barnes’ Metroland, which went for £14,000. The First Edition, Second Thoughts auction raised a total of £439,000 for charity.
