Record price for Harry Potter at auction

An annotated first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone raised £150,000 for English PEN

It is the highest sum paid for a J.K. Rowling book at auction.

The book was donated by the author to the auction of annotated first editions in support of English PEN, the writer's charity that campaigns for freedom of expression.

The auction, at Sotheby's, raised £439,200.

The second-highest seller was a first edition of Matilda by Roald Dahl, with new illustrations by Quentin Blake.

Other books that achieved high bids were:

• The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (£18,000)

• Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel (£16,000)

• Death of a Naturalist, Seamus Heaney (£17,000)

• The Hare with Amber Eyes, Edmund de Waal (£14,500)

• The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett (£11,000)

‘This is a triumphant conclusion to a wonderful project, which has involved the hard work and good will of so many people. I am sure that the buyers of the individual books will be thrilled with their purchases,' said Rick Gekowski, who curated the collection of annotated first editions.

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