SOURCE: NEWS.SKY
The never-before-seen uncorrected sheets are a version of
the book that was sent before final proofreading and consist of 224 numbered
pages on 109 sheets.
The first reviewers of JK Rowling's first Harry Potter
book likened the boy wizard to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Charlie
Bucket.
The connection was revealed as the only known surviving
manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone sold at auction for
£37,000 after causing a "quite a stir".
The never-seen-before, uncorrected pages, are a version of
the popular children's book that was sent before proof reading and contain
comments by the series' first reviewer.
Consisting of 109 sheets, the text sold for almost double
the estimate of £20,000, after a frenzied bidding war was won by a private
collector bidding on the telephone from overseas.
Known in the industry as galley sheets, they also contain
comments made by children's book reviewer Fiona Waters, who was sent the book
by publisher Bloomsbury's Rosamund Walker in 1997.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in
1997 and is the first of seven Harry
Potter books by author JK Rowling.
In a letter, Walker wrote: "Dear Fiona, Harry Potter
and The Philosophers Stone by Joanne Rowling.
"I have enclosed a manuscript for your interest as
promised… I would really appreciate if you would let me know your comments for
pre-publication quotes."
A month later, Waters replied: "I just loved this book.
There is something about Harry Potter that reminds me of Charlie Bucket in
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Waters' comments were used as a review on the back of the
first edition of the book that was printed.
Clive Moss, head of Chiswick Auctions books, manuscript, and
works on paper, said: "We are thrilled with the result of this only known
surviving set of galley sheets today, which were on the market for the first
time and caused quite a stir."
He added: "We expected stiff competition for them, as
they offered a unique insight into what was to become an iconic work in the
history of literature".
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone sees Harry, an
orphan, brought up by his aunt and uncle because his parents were killed when he
was a baby.
Unloved by the pair, he is invited to join Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry.