This much-loved copy was found after a Wolverhampton library determined it was now not match for circulation. Specialists have recognized it as one in all simply 500 launched by Bloomsbury in 1997, with solely 300 of these reaching libraries across the UK.

The astute purchaser, whose id has not been revealed, noticed its worth when the library opted to promote it. After buying it, the person saved the e-book at dwelling, pondering it was misplaced as his assortment expanded.

Sadly, the collector handed away this yr at 55, and his household unearthed the e-book whereas sorting by way of his belongings.

Estimations place the worth of the e-book between £3,000 and £5,000, nevertheless it's predicted to fire up a bidding frenzy on the upcoming Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ Antiques occasion on July 10.

Richard Winterton, auctioneer, mentioned: "What an amazing find. Withdrawn and discarded from the library, bought for 30p and now worth thousands of pounds."

Despite its well-read situation, which Mr Winterton discovered becoming for a e-book that "helped fuel the early popularity of Potter", it nonetheless has its library identification and the 30p promoting worth mark.

The auctioneer mentioned: "We have placed an estimate of £3,000 to £5,000 on the book because of its much-loved condition but other examples have fetched much more than this at auction.”

The book had been part of a Staffordshire man's personal collection, reflecting his lifelong love for books and memorabilia. The collector's sister, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her brother's early passion for collecting, starting from his school days.

She said: "He began dealing in books and memorabilia when he was nonetheless in school.

“He would go to jumble gross sales and church gala's and would come again with a pile of annuals or comics.

"He would then take them to a second-hand shop in Hednesford to sell or take them in to school to swap with friends. That was his passion from an early age onwards."

The household was conscious of the Harry Potter e-book's existence, however had assumed it was misplaced.

His sister mentioned: "When he moved house four years ago he literally put everything into hundreds of boxes, many of which went into containers.

"We knew that he had obtained the e-book however in the event you requested him to pinpoint it he couldn’t.

“So for the final 4 years this e-book has been ‘lost’ and I feel we had come to the conclusion that it had disappeared into the ether someplace.

"Now it’s come to light again we, as a family, are quite excited."

The e-book is ready to be auctioned at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Staffordshire, on July 10.

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