Want to feel old? This weekend marks 25 years since J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released.
After hitting shelves on 26 June 1997, the book has gone on to become part of one of the best-known book franchises in the world – earning an army of fans worldwide.
And one person battling it out for the title of the world’s biggest fan is mum-of-three Victoria McLean, 42, from Neath, Wales.
The self-confessed Potter superfan now boasts over 7,000 items of memorabilia and her love for the franchise was so strong, she even ended up calling her 12-year-old son Harry after the wizard.
This weekend, she’ll be commemorating the 25th anniversary of the series launch by re-reading the first book.
Interestingly, Victoria wasn’t initially sold on the premise of the popular books.
It wasn’t until she picked up a copy of the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001 – four years after its release – that she became hooked.
And she hasn’t looked back.
Over the past 21 years she has picked up figurines, wands and posters – being a magpie for anything branded with the franchise.
Her most expensive item is the Dumbledore’s Office cabinet miniature replica by Valentines Miniatures, which is worth around £30,000.
She frequently visits the Warner Bros Studio Tour and spends most of her time sharing her love with other fans as part of her job as a YouTuber and Content Creator.
Victoria now has a room of her house dedicated to her love of the franchise – packed full of boxes, trunks and drawers bursting with J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts memorabilia.
And within her collection is a battered celebratory paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Smarties Edition – which ignited it all.
She has also managed to pick up a 4th edition of the Philosopher’s Stone for £1 in a charity shop – which now has an estimated worth of £4,000.
With the book turning 25 this Sunday (26 June), Victoria will mark the occasion by giving it another re-read with the newly-released Bloomsbury silver edition.
“Harry Potter to me is now more than just a story. It is a way of life, an anchor, an escape, a story that I just love,” Victoria told NeedToKnow.online.
“Reading about, listening to or watching on TV, I just love it all. The characters, stories, the quests, they are so incredible.
“Everyone kept going on about this wonderful boy wizard, this amazing story that people were becoming immersed in that took you away to somewhere magical.
“I finally gave in in 2001, I picked up the first book and have never looked back since.
“I had heard about this boy wizard and the author behind the story on Blue Peter that was shown on weekdays on BBC 1.
“My first book was a first edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Smarties Edition. It looks a little worse for wear now as it has been read and re read.
“My collection is now worth £250,000. I haven’t spent that much as I get things for free thanks to my job.
“Luckily for me, a lot of fans out there want to contact other fans to share their passion with.”
