Antiques Roadshow guest discovers battered Harry Potter book worth £1.5k thanks to JK Rowling signature

Watch: A battered Harry Potter paperback has been valued at £1,500

A Harry Potter fan has discovered their battered copy of the first wizarding adventure is worth £1,500 because it is signed by author JK Rowling.

Antiques Roadshow guest Helen appeared on the BBC show with her paperback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which has curling pages and a cover that has fallen off.

But expert Justin Croft revealed the poor condition of the book did not affect its value as it has been signed by Harry Potter creator Rowling with the message: "To Helen - This is the condition I like to see my books in! (Read)."

Read more: Antiques Roadshow guest stunned to find Lord Of The Rings letter is worth £10k

She also had a First Edition hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry Potter writer JK Rowling — Harry Potter writer JK Rowling had signed the battered paperback saying she likes to see her books read. (AP)

Croft told her: "These are possibly the worst condition I've seen on the Roadshow."

But he added: "I think I would say £1,000 to £1,500 on this which is really just for the inscription."

Pointing to the second, he added: "And this, being a first edition albeit without the dust jacket, £3,000 to £3,500."

Helen revealed: "Growing up, Harry Potter meant an awful lot to me and my family.

Lot 142 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at Dominic Winter Book Auctions in Swindon. The copy of the first edition which was published just three years ago, is expected to fetch up to 5,000 at auction. * Only 500 copies of JK Rowling's Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone were issued, according to Dominic Winter Book Auctions, of those, 200 were paperback proofs and 300 were hardbacks. (Photo by Barry Batchelor - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) — First Edition hardbacks of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone have been known to fetch up to £5,000 at auction if they are in good condition. (PA) (Barry Batchelor - PA Images via Getty Images)

"The Harry Potter paperback I have there I was given in my stocking one year for Christmas and when I started reading it I couldn't put it down.

"When the second book came out JK Rowling came to the Edinburgh book festival and she did a signing afterwards. She signed it for me."

In June 2020 Rowling was 'cancelled' over her views on trans issues, and became the subject of abuse and even death threats from activists who disagree with her stance on protecting sex-based rights for women.

Fiona Bruce hosts the Antiques Roadshow. (BBC) — Fiona Bruce hosts the Antiques Roadshow. (BBC) (BBC)

The author responded to a story with a headline that read: “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.”

She tweeted: “‘People who menstruate’. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

The writer went on to publish an essay online in which she claimed - as a domestic violence survivor - that she felt allowing trans people to use single-sex bathrooms and changing rooms could be "offering cover to predators".

HOLLYWOOD - OCTOBER 15: Author J.K. Rowling holds a press conference and book signing for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) school children October 15 2007, at The Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images) — JK Rowling's signature and special message made the battered book worth £1,500. (Getty Images) (Toby Canham via Getty Images)

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe apologised to Harry Potter fans for Rowling’s comments.

Emma Watson, who starred as Hermione Granger in the franchise, said: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.

Read more: Harry Potter's Miriam Margolyes says abuse aimed at JK Rowling is ‘misplaced’

"I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are."

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