Signed Harry Potter book sells for £2,600 at auction

A signed hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone was put up for sale by 33-year-old Verity Collins, who gathered the autographs while an extra on the set of the first film in Goathland, North Yorkshire.

Verity, a young teenager at the time, was receiving treatment for Leukaemia and approached Radcliffe because he was sitting alone on set.

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Verity's mother, Valerie Rudd, said she made friends with the actor before asking for his autograph.

She said: “She was about 15 at the time and he would have been about 11. She was with a group of extras, saw Daniel Radcliffe sitting by himself and felt sorry for him so she went and talked to him.

“She had a book with her so she asked him to sign it. He wrote ‘best wishes’ and signed it.

"He said it was the first time anyone had asked him for an autograph."

Her copy was signed by 13 other cast members including Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Tom Felton.

It was also signed by Robbie Coltrane, said to rarely give out signatures but did so because of Verity's illness, and director Chris Columbus

Verity's book, along with cast documents, photographs of herself on set and an invite to a tour of Leavesden Studios, sold for £2,600 at auction - smashing its initial price of £500.

Kathy Taylor, from auctioneer Vectis, said: "It's such a lovely story. It's always difficult to gauge the price when something is unique.

"The seller, who now lives in the south, has great memories of her time on the film and the way the cast treated her during a difficult time while she was ill but her mum said recently it had been sitting in a drawer.

"It became apparent when we promoted the sale on social media it was likely to have been signed on the first day of filming on what was the first Harry Potter film, with actor Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley, confirming he had signed the book as well."

Verity's mother added: "I was delighted with the result at the auction and when I told Verity she said, 'That's incredible news.'"

In addition to the hammer price the buyer will pay an additional 25 per cent commission which will total to £3,250.