World News: Harry Potter find is magic for charity

A RARE first edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets handed in to a city charity store is to go under the hammer in a silent auction.

The donation delighted workers at Oxfam’s Newington branch and will be one of 20 titles auctioned off at the charity’s stores across Edinburgh between July 2 and 17.

Oxfam hopes to raise hundreds of pounds through the sale while also marking the charity’s third annual Bookfest.

David Hendrie, manager of Oxfam’s Newington bookshop, said: “When I initially recognised a first edition of the first Harry Potter book amongst the shop’s donations last year I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime find, but coming across another was like lightning striking twice.

“True first editions of the early Harry Potter books are extremely scarce, so to find two in a year was unbelievable.”