A Hogwarts acceptance letter used in the first Harry Potter film is up for auction, and is expected to sell for around £10,000. Potterheads with deep pockets will have the rare opportunity to get their hands on the prop from The Philosopher’s Stone, which launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
The letter, which comes with the original envelope, is under the hammer at auction house Chiswick Auctions. The rare find has been with its owner for more than 20 years. It was bought at a school auction in 2002 and the letter still has the original Hogwarts seal and is completely untouched.
Addressed to the fictional “Little Whinging, Surrey” address, the carefully written green ink reads: “Mr H. Potter, the Cupboard under the Stairs, 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.”
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As Potterheads will remember, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone the young wizard was confined to living under the stairs in his wicked Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley’s house, with his insufferable cousin, Dudley.
Hundreds of letters were used in the scene, posted by persistent owls through the letterbox and inside eggs as Petunia bakes. Uncle Vernon rips up and burns the letters until, much to his shock, a sea of letters come flying through the chimney and floods their front room.
Inside the letter is Harry’s introduction to the wizarding world, and instructions on how to get to Hogwarts. The letter comes with a colour photocopy of the real letter inside the envelope, and a Harry Potter Productions letterhead outlining that this is an original prop from the movie.
Another letter is included from Mark Radcliffe, a producer of 1492 Pictures which produced the first three of the films, for when the letter was donated to a school charity auction back in 2002.
Addressed to the Vice Chairperson of the PTA of Newdigate Infant School, in Dorking, Surrey, it reads: “Thank you for your interest in Harry Potter. Please find enclosed for your charity a Hogwarts acceptance letter and envelope, as seen in Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone. As the envelope is sealed, I have also included a copy of its contents.
“I have enclosed for your reference, a copy of the cover of a magazine featuring Daniel Radcliffe and one of the letters in action! There are only a limited number of these props available from the studio, thus we hope it raises a substantial amount for your good cause.”
The auction at Chiswick Auctions will take place on June 22 at 11am. Specialist Valentina Borghi expects plenty of interest from Potter collectors. “Harry Potter ephemera this good doesn’t come on the market very often. As a general rule, the props used in the eight films have tended to stay with the studios.”
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