A leading book retailer has revealed the most expensive first editions that collectors will pay tens of thousands of pounds - or even more - for.
It’s a dream of many to stumble upon one of these in a charity shop or a relative’s dusty bookshelves and, with thousands of unaccounted for editions out there, it’s something that can still become a reality.
The list from www.webuybooks.co.uk includes everything from 18th century classics to a certain boy wizard whose literary life started in an Edinburgh coffee shop.
Here are the 10 books to keep an eye out for.
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5. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: £100,000
Over the years, Agatha Christie has been a figurehead in the murder mystery genre, drawing in fans from across the globe and building a franchise that has seen countless TV and film adaptations. In total Agatha Christie has written and published 66 novels, each being met with varying levels of success, so it will come as no surprise that she has made it onto this list with The Mysterious Affair at Styles. If you are lucky enough to find a first edition of The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 'very good' condition with its original dust jacket, it could be worth up to £100,000. | webuybooks.co.uk
6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling: £5,000-£100,000
What kind of list of the most valuable novels would this be without Harry Potter? The most valuable Harry Potter is, of course, the first installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The value of first edition copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone can vary wildly from £5,000 to £100,000 depending on condition and the presence of a signature. | webuybooks.co.uk
7. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: £64,420
First Edition of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Approximate Value: £64,420 One of the most well-known pieces of literature of the 1900s, The Hobbit, set the stage for a new age of high fantasy literature. When The Hobbit was published in 1937 it was only given a first run of 1,500 which immediately makes it rare by any standards. Nowadays there are likely much fewer than 1,500 first edition copies of The Hobbit left thanks to general attrition, not to mention all the copies that have already been accounted for. This means that any first edition copy of The Hobbit is going to be valuable. An example of just how valuable they can be is the leather-bound first edition copy of The Hobbit found on the Greek island of Santorini which sold was valued at £64,420. | webuybooks.co.uk
8. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter: £50,000
Widely known today for the beautifully unique artwork in the books, Peter Rabbit has become a household name. First appearing in the book entitled The Tales of Peter Rabbit, in 1902, the young mischievous rabbit quickly found his way into the hearts of thousands of people across the globe. Today, a first edition copy of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit is worth up to £50,000 depending on condition. | webuybooks.co.uk