Over at CNN.com, there’s an article about a Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in the US) first edition exceeding expectations at auction in Dallas, Texas and bringing in over $19,000. That’s a lot of quiddich or muggles or whatever the currency is at Hogwart’s. The edition itself is a soft-cover of the original 200 print run; I’m not sure of J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter’s history, but perhaps this was her self-publishing foray that turned into something great. Or maybe it was an extremely paltry first pressing of a book that, as a series, has sold over 100 million copies. Regardless, it’s quite impressive this sale of a signed first edition. Me, I’d much rather have the first edition hardcover of Blood Meridian I saw last spring at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair; I think it was less than $1000. The Harry Potter first might be a good investment, though. The scariest part of the article, however, is this tidbit:

The winning bid of $19,120 bypassed expectations, but it was not the most expensive sale of Harry Potter-related items in an auction.

The highest selling item, if you’re interested, was a lock of Daniel Radcliffe’s hair that the buyer used to complete her Harry Potter Real Doll; she had the fingernail clippings, she just had to have the hair. Oh yeah.