The book had a high estimate of £28,000. However, after some competitive online bidding, the lot was knocked down for a hammer price of £38,000. It topped the previous Harry Potter first edition high of £35,000 achieved at Bonhams in November 2016.
“We are delighted with the world record price,” said Clive Moss, auctioneer and director of children’s books and illustrative art at Bloomsbury.
The volume, which Moss described as being in “near perfect” condition, was fresh to the market. It went to a private buyer.
Other leading lots included a first edition of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel You Only Live Twice, which took £6500 over a high estimate of £5000, and a 1606 Psalter with an embroidered binding which went for £4800.
A soft-cover first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold later in the sale for a mid-estimate £2800.
