Harry Potter books expert from Birmingham launches new auction saleroom

Rare Book Auctions is an auction house devoted to rare books set to open in Wade Street, Lichfield.

Jim Spencer has put books on the map worldwide thanks to his passion, expertise and incredible finds. They have achieved astonishing amounts at auction and made news globally.

His discoveries include 19 hardback first editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone out of only 500 printed in the first-ever Potter book print run in 1997. In addition, he has found many rare and ancient first editions which have sold for tens of thousands of pounds.

They achieved between £17,500 and £69,000, plus buyer’s premium, dependent on condition.

He also uncovered a Hebrew manuscript, Tikune Shabat, Amsterdam, 1757, £57,000;  16th-century terrestrial globe, £116,000, and a first edition of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, 1776, £65,000. Major collections managed include A Prime Minister’s Life: The Harold & Mary Wilson Collection, £226,000.

Speaking about the auction house, Jim, said: “I didn’t want to call my saleroom anything vainglorious or pretentious, using my name or some archaic word that few would understand. I put myself in the shoes of a collector or prospective seller and headed for Google: what would they type in?

“As soon as I hit the keys, it was staring back at me – Rare Book Auctions. It was direct and confident.

“I needed to balance this stark simplicity with a logo that encapsulated a passion for history, humour, culture, the arts – everything I love – so I opted for a whimsical Regency caricature of Grimaldi doing a leap-frog. Direct and fun. That’s what it’s all about.”

The saleroom is set to open this September.