Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern

Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 238. J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1998, first edition, inscribed by the author.

J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1998, first edition, inscribed by the author

UK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Lot Closed

July 11, 01:54 PM GMT

Estimate

8,000 - 12,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

J.K. Rowling


Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. London: Bloomsbury, 1998


8vo, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on publisher's imprint page), INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR: "To Martin and Nicole | you ravaging, flesh-| eating beasts — | You will recognise | someone in here | ("pass the turkey") | with lots of love | from Jo", original pictorial boards, dust-jacket


A first edition of Harry's second Hogwarts outing, with a wonderfully irreverent inscription (an in-joke between Rowling and her friend from pre-Potter days teaching in Portugal). Unlike the copies of the Philosopher's Stone, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Goblet of Fire inscribed to the same friends (see lots ***), which are all double-signed as "Jo" and "J.K. Rowling", it is notable that the present copy is signed simply "from Jo". The nom de plume "J.K. Rowling" had already become a recognisable brand by the time of this inscription, so Rowling's decision to sign with only her first name appears to have been a deliberate one. By signing only in an informal capacity, the author affirms her groundedness and loyalty to old friendships in the face of growing fame—values exemplified by the character of Harry Potter himself.


PROVENANCE:

Inscribed by the author to the present owner


LITERATURE:

Errington A2(a)

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