£19,700 ($40,367). That's what someone paid today at Christie's for a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Guardian reports. The copy, described as "exceptionally fine" by the auction house, was read just once, and is in near-pristine condition. It beats out the old record of £19,500, set earlier this year.
A publisher's proof of Philosopher's Stone (with "J.A. Rowling" misprinted on the title page) was also on the block this morning; it fetched £2,250.
