A history of sought-after Harry Potter collectables

The UK’s FIRST Harry Potter 50p is now available, and it features a special lenticular element. In this blog, I’ll tell you why Harry Potter collectables are some of the most sought-after out there…

The stories of Harry Potter are among some of the most-popular in the world.

In fact, more than 500 million copies of the Harry Potter books have sold worldwide!

Around the world, Harry Potter themed collectables and memorabilia are extremely popular with collectors and fans alike.

Particularly, first editions of Harry Potter collectables, or those with unique features are particularly in-demand.

Considering the brand new Harry Potter 50p is both a UK FIRST and it includes a special lenticular feature, it will surely follow in some HUGE footsteps. But, how much have previous Harry Potter collectables sold for on the secondary market?

Sought-after Harry Potter collectables

Let’s take a look at some Harry Potter memorabilia that has fetched HUGE sums on secondary market sites….

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a fictional book mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and it was brought to life when JK Rowling hand-wrote and self-illustrated 7 copies of the book.

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Handwritten copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Credit: Good Housekeeping

All 7 copies were bound in Moroccan leather and decorated with silver ornaments and semi precious stones. These books are incredibly rare with only 7 in existence.

Subsequently, one sold at auction for £1.95 million, a world record for a modern manuscript!

This is a key example of how edition limits can drive up demand for collectable items.

Considering the strict worldwide edition limits of the precious metal Harry Potter 50p coins, we don’t expect these to be available for long…

Browse the range here >>

Chocolate Frog Trading Cards

The Gold Albus Dumbledore Trading cards, available in the Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs, were previously been listed on eBay for over $900!

These cards are especially in demand as they are only available from Universal Studios in Japan and feature a special lenticular design.

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Universal Studios Japan Albus Dumbledore Chocolate Frog Trading Card
Credit: eBay

Like the Albus Dumbledore Trading Card, the UK’s FIRST Harry Potter 50p excitingly also features a unique lenticular feature.

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The 2022 UK Harry Potter Lenticular Feature on the 50p design.

Evidently, Harry Potter themed collectables with strict edition limits and unique features can be worth a small fortune.

And, with recent UK 50p launches selling out at The Royal Mint in limited edition presentations, including the recently issued BBC 50p, this brand new coin is sure to be a hit with collectors.

So, don’t hesitate in adding the UK’s first Harry Potter 50p to your collection.

Browse the range here >>

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UK 50p inspired by Jim Kay’s illustrations of Harry Potter

A brand new collection of UK 50p coins is now available, celebrating 25 years since the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

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Since 1997, more than half a billion Harry Potter books have been sold. That means one in fifteen people in the world owns a Harry Potter book.

25 years on, the Harry Potter books continue to evolve. Most significantly, with newer illustrations by renowned artists, like Jim Kay.

Bringing magic to the page

Jim Kay is thought to have worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week on his reimagined illustrations of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World.

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Chapter One of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the 2015 illustrated edition by Bloomsbury and Jim Kay. Reads: ‘CHAPTER ONE – THE BOY WHO LIVED’

Jim Kay is the star of Bloomsbury’s latest editions and his illustrations can be seen in books 1-5.

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Harry Potter Hardback Book Collection by Bloomsbury, illustrated by Jim Kay.
From left to right: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix.

Speaking to The British Library, Kay said the commission of all seven illustrated Harry Potter books is the “most frightening” an artist could get.

When creating his illustrations for these books, Kay describes wanting to “give people something to discover on each reading”.

His illustrations take inspiration from museums, libraries, National Trust properties, and everything in between.

Drawing the Boy Who Lived

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2022 UK Harry Potter 50p reverse design, with Jim Kay’s illustration of the Boy Who Lived.

Jim Kay admits that the hardest thing to visualise in the whole project is Harry himself.

Sticking to the origins of the famous character, his drawings of the Boy Who Lived show a young boy, with as he describes, “an unusual face”.

2022 UK Harry Potter 50p

Jim Kay says seeing his illustrations on large scale print still fills him with fear. But, we’re sure he is delighted to see his drawings brought to life on the UK 50p for the first time.

The brand new collection of 50p coins is made up of four coins, starting with Harry Potter..

The first coin in the series is now available to order, with the remaining coins also available to pre-order.

Click here to add the Harry Potter 50p to your collection >>

New UK 50p celebrates the father of computing

The latest UK 50p in the Royal Mint’s Innovation in science series has just been released to celebrate the father of computing, Charles Babbage.

And in my latest video I tell you everything you need to know about this must-have coin for your collection!


If you’re interested…

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