Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

The Bloomsbury first edition of Deathly Hallows was published on 21 July 2007 under the ISBN 0 7475 9105 9, with 607 pages. Check that the copyright page carries a first edition statement and that the ISBN matches the standard children's edition.

Demand on publication was enormous, and the first printing was vast. A first edition is therefore common, and most copies are worth little more than a good read. What lifts one above that is condition, a perfect jacket and, above all, a verified signature.

What to look for:

• ISBN 0 7475 9105 9 for the children's edition.
• A first edition statement on the copyright page.
• Pictorial boards under a pictorial dust jacket.

Bloomsbury published an adult-cover edition and a deluxe edition alongside it, each under its own ISBN. They are separate editions and are priced separately, so match the ISBN before comparing values.

Signed copies are where the money is, and also where the risk is. Ask for provenance, such as a photograph from a signing event or a receipt from the shop that hosted it. A signature without evidence adds little.

When grading, an unread copy in a bright, unclipped jacket is the benchmark. Most copies were read straight away, so spine creases and jacket wear are common.

Sources: dealer descriptions of first printings, and Open Library's edition records.