Rare Potter 'to sell for £12,000'

Only around 500 copies were printed

A rare signed first edition Harry Potter book is expected to fetch up to £12,000 when it goes under the hammer, auction organisers have said.

Whoever buys the copy of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone will see the book signed "Joanne Rowling".

The auction at Christie's in London on Thursday will also feature an uncorrected proof copy of the book.

With "JA Rowling" printed in error on the title page, it is expected to attract as much as £4,000.

Other lots at the auction include two more Harry Potter novels, signed by the author with messages to "Ella", which should together attract bids of at least £700, a Christie's spokesperson said.

Earlier this year, another first edition of the book sold for £9,000 at auction.

The seventh Potter book broke sales records on both sides of the Atlantic when it was published in July, selling 11 million copies in 24 hours.