A softcover copy of the rare 1997 first edition of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone sold for a record $19,120 in a recent auction held by Heritage Auction Galleries.

Though millions of copies are now printed of each new Rowling title, only 300 hardcover and 200 softcover copies of Rowling's first book were ever printed; nearly all of them went to schools and libraries. Adding to the value of this copy was a card mounted inside the back cover featuring the front-cover artwork signed by Rowling.

The final price beat the pre-auction estimate of $8,000-$12,000 and almost doubled the previous record for this title—$10,750, set in October 2008.