The popular children’s books we’ve all read that could be worth £3,000 | Personal Finance | Finance

The UK is a nation of booklovers, with the average household owning 104 books. But among these collections could be a potential heirloom worth a small fortune, especially when it comes to early or limited-edition copies of popular children’s books.

Specialist home insurance provider Homeprotect have identified the most valuable children’s books that could earn you more than just dust on your shelves. Taking the top spot is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, with fourth editions selling for as much as £2,686 on eBay in recent months. The epic fantasy classic was first published in 1937 and has sold over 100 million copies since then. It was originally sold for seven shillings and six pence, which is equivalent to £22.58 today when adjusted for inflation – a value increase of 11,796%. In second position is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, with valuable first editions sold for as much as £2,228. Originally sold for four shillings upon publication in 1865, this is the equivalent of spending £27.40 today. This is an 8,031% increase in value.

It’s no surprise that Harry Potter books are among the most valuable books, given the success of the book and film series. Signed hardback editions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows can fetch up to £1,485 on the online marketplace.

In fourth and fifth position are The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, with centenary editions worth £1,000 and first editions worth £770 each, respectively.

Inspiring TV shows, films and even theme park rides, owners of unique editions of The Wind in the Willows could see a value increase of as much as 1,116%, as limited-edition prints are likely to have sold for over £50, equivalent to £82.23 today.

Hound of the Baskervilles is widely considered the most popular and well-known Sherlock Holmes story, with copies likely selling for a standard retail price of six shillings in 1902. In today’s money, that is around £32 – a 2,294% increase in value.

Completing the top 10 most valuable children’s books are Eragon by Christopher Paolini (£745), Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (£670), The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum (£668), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (£516) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (£483).

David Joyson, chief customer officer at Homeprotect, said: “It’s incredible to see how much a favourite childhood read can grow in value. With World Book Day encouraging families to dig out classics, it could prompt people to rediscover stories as well as editions that could earn them some cash during hard financial times.

“It’s not uncommon for books to be passed down from one generation to the next, so their value can be easily overlooked or forgotten. If you think you have a valuable book, it’s worth doing your research to see which editions are fetching a high price, and if yours could be a hidden treasure.

“If you do come across a book that you think may be valuable, opt for a professional valuation. Not only will this ensure you get what it’s worth when selling it on, but if you’re planning to hang on to it, to ensure you have the appropriate home insurance contents cover.

“Rare or collectable books may be covered by your contents insurance, but it’s always worth checking the specific policy terms with your insurer and letting them know the specifics of your valuable household items, to confirm that you have an adequate amount of contents cover.”