A man has sold a historic book for a whooping Ksh4.2 million in order to raise funds to perform a final burial ritual for his father in Kenya.
Harry Potter from the United Kingdom, resolved to sell his well-loved copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (released in the US as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”) to fundraise the trip.
He received the hard copy of the book from his father in 1997 — the year the book was released. It was among the 500 special editions of the book that were printed.
The 33-year-old had stored the book as his most prized possession for many years. But, he was compelled to sell it because of the immense emotions that arose from his father's demise back in 2017. Fours years down the line, he was still holding on to his ashes.
However, to honour his father, Potter decided to part ways with the book in order to raise funds to facilitate his trip to Kenya to perform the last ritual for his late dad, to scatter his ashes.
The book attracted huge value despite having worn corners and a creased spine at Hansons Auctioneers, in Etwall, Derbyshire, for Ksh4.2 million.
“I’m happy it sold,” he said in a statement to South West News Service. “We plan to use the proceeds to take my dad’s ashes to Kenya."
“We’re delighted to deliver a happy ending, and add a new chapter to the Potter story,” added Hanson Auctioneers owner, Charles Hanson.
“Considering its well-used, well-loved condition, the book did extremely well,” he stated. “I’m so pleased Harry and Katie can now use the proceeds to honour their father.”
The proceeds raised will enable Potter plan his journey to Kenya and honour his dad's wish.
The historic book has been attracting the largest bids in recent times. As if Ksh4.2 Million is nothing to sneeze at, another first printing of the same book, which additionally bragged an autograph from the author, fetched a cool Ksh9.98 Million in 2019.
