20 HP books were auctioned at Christie's.

Christie’s International in London, England sold a number of Harry Potter novels at auction today, including a number rare or signed editions. Bloomberg is reporting, the complete lot of 20 books pulled in a total of 36,560 pounds ($72,565) with fees for the auction house. According to the article, early sales estimates had the lot selling for 20,000 pounds without fees. A first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” without its dust jacket and containing “slip of paper bearing Rowling’s signature,” was part of the auction, and ultimately sold for 4,000 pounds ($8,000). Christie’s noted this edition was “exceptionally rare” as only approximately 500 copies were printed, 300 of which went to libraries. Speaking for Christie’s, Crispin Jackson went on to note the increased value books at auction which contain an authors signature, saying: It increases the price by at least five times.” Other Harry Potter books sold today include a boxed set of five deluxe editions which sold for 5,000 pounds ($10,000).