Buzz
Devoted Harry Potter enthusiasts have played a pivotal role in transforming J.K. Rowling’s enchanting book series into a global phenomenon, dominating both literature and cinema. Unsurprisingly, memorabilia tied to the books and films frequently fetch staggering sums, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars. Below are nine extraordinary items whose auction prices could deplete even the wealthiest Gringotts vault.
1. LETTER OF ADMISSION TO HOGWARTS
Warner Bros.
If an owl never brought you a Hogwarts acceptance letter, don’t lose hope. Muggles can still acquire one—if they’re prepared to pay a hefty sum. One of the prop envelopes that inundated the Dursley residence in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) was auctioned in London last September for approximately $6500. Unlike most letters in the scene, this one featured an authentic wax seal from Hogwarts, rather than a printed version.
2. THE GOLDEN SNITCH
Warner Bros.
In 2012, a fortunate bidder secured this elusive item at auction [PDF]. Rather than relying on Quidditch prowess, they spent $7000 on the Sorcerer’s Stone prop. However, the film-used snitch isn’t solid gold—it’s crafted from resin and plastic, adorned with gold paint.
3. HARRY’S TRAINING BROOM
Warner Bros.
While it may not be the Nimbus 2000, the broom Harry used to master flying in Sorcerer’s Stone became a highly coveted auction item (part of the same auction as the golden snitch mentioned earlier). The prop fetched a winning bid of $11,500, soaring 130 percent above its initial high estimate of $5000. Unique markings, including an "H" on the handle and "Harry" inscribed at the base, set it apart from other brooms used in the scene.
4. THE ELDER WAND
Warner Bros.
The Elder Wand stands as one of the most coveted artifacts in the Harry Potter series. Though the real-life prop from the Deathly Hallows films lacks magical powers, it remains a prized possession for Muggles. In 2013, it sold for $10,100 at a Premiere Props auction in California, far exceeding its estimated value. This wand is unique, having been wielded by two iconic characters: Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe).
5. HARRY’S GLASSES
Julien's Live
Harry Potter has forever linked round, wire-frame glasses to the image of the young wizard. Among the most recognizable costume pieces from the films, Harry’s spectacles commanded a high price at auction. In 2015, a pair worn by Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone fetched $20,000 in Los Angeles. Radcliffe himself kept another pair from the set, along with the glasses he wore in the final movie.
6. ANNOTATED HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
First editions of Harry Potter books are already highly prized, with only 500 UK copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone printed (300 of which were distributed to libraries). Today, surviving copies can fetch up to $56,000. When J.K. Rowling’s annotated first edition, featuring 20 original drawings and insights into her creative process (including the origins of Quidditch), was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 2013, it sold for $228,000. The sale, part of a charity auction for annotated first editions, raised $666,310 in total.
7. ORIGINAL PHILOSOPHER’S STONE COVER ILLUSTRATION
Bloomsbury
By 2001, just four years after the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the series had become a global sensation, leading to the original cover art selling for £85,750. Thomas Taylor’s pencil and watercolor depiction of Harry in front of the Hogwarts Express marked his first professional assignment and remains the only artwork of his featured in the series. The piece was acquired by a private American collector during a Sotheby’s auction in London.
8. J.K. ROWLING’S CHAIR
This item may not appear in the books or films, but it holds immense significance as the chair where J.K. Rowling wrote the first two Harry Potter novels. Part of a set of mismatched vintage dining chairs she purchased in 1995, two years before Philosopher’s Stone was published, Rowling chose it for its comfort—though she later admitted it wasn’t particularly cozy. Sold at a charity auction in 2002 for $21,000, the chair was resold online years later and fetched an astonishing $394,000 at a rare books auction. Its value is further enhanced by Rowling’s handwritten graffiti, including "O, you may not find me pretty but don't judge on what you see" on the back and "I wrote Harry Potter while sitting on this chair" around the seat.
9. THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD HANDWRITTEN BY ROWLING
Amazon
The priciest Harry Potter-related book isn’t from the main series but one of seven handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of five fairytales featured in The Deathly Hallows. This leather-bound, silver-adorned volume, penned and illustrated by J.K. Rowling, was initially estimated to sell for around $100,000. However, at a 2007 Sotheby’s auction, it fetched £1,950,000 (nearly $4 million) for The Children’s Voice charity. The winning bidder, Amazon, secured the most expensive modern literary manuscript ever sold. Rowling later permitted Amazon to sell limited-edition replicas, which remain widely available in the secondhand market.
