Printing errors!

So I recently bought The Chamber of Secrets (I've read them all, I just never owned the first three books, so now I'm buying them all in hardcover). And there is a printing error in the book. It is missing pages 151-182. Instead of those pages, it repeats pages 87-118.
So I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or anything like this? How common of a mistake is this? Should I return it and get a regular copy, or does this have the potential to be of value? Thanks in advance for any help.

I'd definitely keep it. Who knows what it could be worth?

I think I've heard of this before...it's pretty doubtful that it has any value unless an extremely small number of copies have the error. I'd just take it back to the store and get myself a new copy.

I'm a bit of a tightwad, so I'd personally probably just return it to the store for a copy with all the pages, rather than waiting to see if it might be of some value someday. It seems kind of unlikely since you're actually missing several pages of the story, but I dunno. Maybe you could surf around the internet and see if you can find any info about collectors buying books with printing errors in the past, or something like that?

I have that probòem but in another book, it was missing about thirty pages. But as I like odd things I kept the book (non Harry Potter) and went back to the book shop and read the missing pages in another full paged copy. :)

I would keep it!! But get another copy

I would hang onto it and keep it in the closet until you forget about it, and also pickup a new copy. Someday I'm sure it will be worth a bit more, it also is neat to have a something unique like it. You'll never know when a crazy fanatic will come along and will just *have* to have it.

You should take it back to the store so they can return it to the publisher. The publisher should be made aware of the mistake. It's a matter for their Quality Control Dept.

I doubt that the book would have any future value. Hard telling how many of them are on the market.

Thanks guys! I'll probably hold on to it. Its not like I don't know what happened in the missing pages. Maybe I'll go back to the bookstore and see if there are any other books with that problem. Thanks again!

I've never heard of something like this.
So, if it is a rare occurance, then it will eventually be worth something and is probably a good thing that you're holding onto it.

Because someday down the road, die-hard collectors will find out about the small amount of books with the mistake (If it is the case of it being a small amount), and they'll want it. Badly. And that means the price worth of it will go up greatly.

keep it.

i don't think it's worth anything, the same thing happened to me with my copy of Speak. an excellent book, by the way

I have the same thing happen to OoTP. I was reading and I got to the point were the pages were missing, and I could not read anymore. This is just an example. I had 1-300, then I was missing 301-350. I had 351-400, two times. It would be really neat if it would be worth something down the road.

I'd definitely keep it. Who knows what it could be worth?

:lol: So would I. I have never heard of that with The Chamber of Secrets. I remember on the release of the Order of The Pheonix that one of the chapters was missing and the second chapter was repeated. This happened to thousands of very angry Harry Potter fans. Then they had to take them back to the shop the next day to swap for the one with all the proper chapters.

Depending on whether it is American or British or another language, paperback or hardcover, you may hve something of value there. The Goblet of Fire printing mistake will defintely be worth something, and I really wish I was lucky enough to have one. Unfortunately, I read my friends when it came out, and never even noticed it at first. Anyways, I'd hold on to that.

Depending on whether it is American or British or another language, paperback or hardcover, you may hve something of value there. The Goblet of Fire printing mistake will defintely be worth something, and I really wish I was lucky enough to have one. Unfortunately, I read my friends when it came out, and never even noticed it at first. Anyways, I'd hold on to that.

Sorry to hijack the topic, but I was just wondering if you were referring to the "wand order" error in GoF? I never owned any of the books before recently, and I just bought the hardback--from a used bookstore--which has the original, incorrect, order. I had never really thought about that being worth anything other than annoyance. :lol:

Sorry to hijack the topic, but I was just wondering if you were referring to the "wand order" error in GoF? I never owned any of the books before recently, and I just bought the hardback--from a used bookstore--which has the original, incorrect, order. I had never really thought about that being worth anything other than annoyance. :lol:

Yes I was, and I don't think they are selling them any more. When asked about the reason for why the order was messed up, Jo replied that she made a last second adjustment because her agent caught it or something, and he was wrong.

I believe it may or may not be worth something, I may be wrong since I didn't know they were still selling them :scared:. Well, if they aren't, then i think they would be. If not worth in value, worth in collecting, for it will be some day...

Yes I was, and I don't think they are selling them any more. When asked about the reason for why the order was messed up, Jo replied that she made a last second adjustment because her agent caught it or something, and he was wrong.

I believe it may or may not be worth something, I may be wrong since I didn't know they were still selling them :scared:. Well, if they aren't, then i think they would be. If not worth in value, worth in collecting, for it will be some day...

Well, I got a used copy--I'm sure the folks at my local independent used bookshop weren't checking every copy of the fourth Harry Potter book for an editing error. ;) It's in excellent shape (aside from the previous owner having written her name in pen on the inside cover :grumble:), and I only paid $10 for it... that would be really lucky if it did end up being worth something.

I've got a copy of GoF with the wand error in it, and I never thought of it being worth something. Even if it is, mine will never be worth anything, cause my little sister ruined the binding of the book.:grumble:

I am so jealous. All of my books are the editions without errors. I would hold onto those books with the errors though. I am sure that, not only are they a great collector's item, but that they may be worth additional money someday, especially to a obsessed fan, like myself.

Thanks alot for all the advice! Yeah I think I decided to just keep it. Can't hurt things. So now I'm curious...what is this "wand order" mistake that you speak of?

Thanks alot for all the advice! Yeah I think I decided to just keep it. Can't hurt things. So now I'm curious...what is this "wand order" mistake that you speak of?
The wand order mistake happened in the graveyard scene in GoF. Whenever the "shadows" of the people Voldemort killed came out if his wand, James came out before Lily, when Lily should have came out before James. The mistake was corrrected in later versions of the 4th book.

The wand order mistake happened in the graveyard scene in GoF. Whenever the "shadows" of the people Voldemort killed came out if his wand, James came out before Lily, when Lily should have came out before James. The mistake was corrrected in later versions of the 4th book.


(checking to see which GOF book he owns...brb) :eyebrows:

Doh...mine's correct. That's pretty cool that that's out there though.

Well its probably not all that common so maybe one day it might be worth something(to some crazed Harry Potter fan no offense if you are one)

So I recently bought The Chamber of Secrets (I've read them all, I just never owned the first three books, so now I'm buying them all in hardcover). And there is a printing error in the book. It is missing pages 151-182. Instead of those pages, it repeats pages 87-118.
So I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or anything like this? How common of a mistake is this? Should I return it and get a regular copy, or does this have the potential to be of value? Thanks in advance for any help.
You won´t believe it, that happened to me twice.

Once with The Perfume by Patrick Süssking
The second time with one of the Elizabeth George novels, can´t remember which one. I think those things just happen in mass-production.

Keep the book. it will be valuable for sure, just the same way as coins are valuable if the head is facing the wrong way.

Thanks again everyone. Yeah I went back to the bookstore today to check on the other copies of COS that were there and none of them had the mistake. I'm definetley keeping it. Now on to PoA!!!

my copy of GoF had that.

I'd definitely return it to the store. I doubt a book missing pages will ever be of any value, it's not like it's autographed or something. Besides, I wouldn,t want a book with missing pages anyway..

I was in Borders Books and Music the other day with my best friend. I was looking at DVD's, she at the Harry Potter section, and it just so happened that the two are right next to each other. Well, all of a sudden, she calls me over and there was a hardcover copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone with no gold lettering at all on the blanket cover thingy. The raised "Harry Potter" and "J. K. Rowling" were on there, but somehow, it got out of the printers without the gold lettering put on. Interesting?

I once found in a bookstore a Spanish copy of PS with the text upside-down. I should have bought it, it was very appropiate for a book about wizards...

If there were no page missing, it's indeed exciting. :lol:

If there were no page missing, it's indeed exciting.

Yeah, imagine if you get your copy of book seven and it's missing pages? I'd imagine that would be a "*BRAIN 'SPLODEY*" moment.

...Ugh, I've scared myself now :scared:

Still, with books you've already read, I guess it just makes them a bit quirky. So I would definitely keep it - quirky things are fun.

Yeah, imagine if you get your copy of book seven and it's missing pages? I'd imagine that would be a "*BRAIN 'SPLODEY*" moment.

...Ugh, I've scared myself now :scared:

Still, with books you've already read, I guess it just makes them a bit quirky. So I would definitely keep it - quirky things are fun.

Well, you've scared me too. Imagine if you are missing the last page with only one word, and it is either "harry" or "voldemort" Id probably sue scholastic

Can we please keep this thread about mistakes actually happened?

Hold onto that book with missing pages. Shortly after that book came out I saw a few on E-Bay selling for $150.00 to $200.00. And yes, selling !!!
I'd keep it.

I would keep it!! But get another copy

Me too! :tu:

Well, you've scared me too. Imagine if you are missing the last page with only one word, and it is either "harry" or "voldemort" Id probably sue scholastic

One of my friends and I were talking about that one time, but we were wondering what would happen if the entire last page was missing? :upset: :sad:

i would take it back and get another copy and look and make sure it has them pages before i buy another one

Anyone who would intentionally buy a book with missing pages for a price higher than what's it worth...has issues...

I noticed that in the beginning of one of my chapters in CoS the last word before the next page is Professor and its spelled "Proffesorr"

Little things like typos probably won't be worth much, as they will have happened in all of the books of that edition. But large printing errors like repeated pages are probably worth loads. I'd make sure you buy it without telling the cashier because I don't think shops are actually allowed to sell faulty goods.

I got told a story about a guy who did stamp collecting, so he went down to the post office to buy a sheet of stamps, so the woman behind the counter showed him a range of sheets for him to choose from and while he was inspecting them to see what designs he liked best he noticed that one of the stamps had been printed wrongly (I can't remember how, but I think the price was chopped off or something). So he goes to the cashier, "Actually, I'd just like that one." pointing to the faulty stamp, so she thinks hmm that's strange behaviour, so she inspects the stamp and finds out its faulty so has to cut it out of the sheet and through it away. The collector should have just asked for that whole sheet because then she wouldn't have noticed and he would have a stamp worth hundreds of pounds!

So, like LJB85 in this thread (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=104092), I have a copy with the error, but it's nowhere near a first edition (and it's not in very good condition, either...) I don't understand how it can be deliberate, though - are we sure Jo wasn't having a joke at her own expense when she said that? You know, like the Mark Evans fiasco? The HPLexicon has this:

Oh, the troubles this mistake has caused. Rowling compounded the confusion when she was asked about this in an interview and she called it a "deliberate error," whatever that was supposed to mean. Now we know...it's officially supposed to read "descendant." There go ten or twelve really clever fan theories right out the window.

From here (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/cs/changes_cs.html).

there already is a thread like this it's called "Faulty versions of the books"

Anyway, one of my OotP versions has, I think, 47 pages missing. It repeats 1 1/2 chapters instead.

I've never had a printing error but I wish I did! It would'nt probably mean anything in the grand scheme of things because I doubt I would ever sell it. Also, it probably would'nt be worth anything since my books get damaged from constant use. I would recommend keeping the book and get a new book because someone as obsessed as me would want to buy it. :p

I think that you should keep it...such a large printing error probably would have been noticed by now and the stock would have been recalled if it was a large mistake.

As it stands, my version of GoF also has an error - it's the original version, where James comes out of Voldemort's wand instead of James. It's kind of cool, actually, since my sister has the "fixed" version.

I say keep it and buy yourself a new one. Never hurts.

On the side, on the spine, with the dust jacket removed, are anyone else's not completely printed? LIke missing purple ink?

Tonight I was lucky enough to find a first printing of HBP (thought they'd be sold out by now) at Target and when I removed the dust cover I saw that on the spine part of the spine was missing purple ink where it was supposed to

LIke at the top it said Rowlin
then along the side it said Harry Potter but with the top part of each word cut off

All the words are complete on mine.

a quarter of the ink on the spine of my HBP hardcover 1st printing I got at Target is missing. It just says "Rowlin" and "Schola" for example. I'm exchanging it when I can find another 1st print

I don't really see it being worth anything in the future unless you take it and have it signed by J.K.R. and then you'd have a fairly rare copy. One that is not only messed up (from printing, but a messed up copy with her signature). If you were to take it to one of her book signings you might mention to her that it is a copy that was messed up in printing... and you never know..... when she signs it... she may mention it..... Then it would be a one of a kind book. However, as you have it now. Well, no offense to anyone, but it really isn't worth anything. There were thousands of those books printed with that mistake. Some were returned to the publisher... yes... and some were not... Depending on the person and whether they thought that they had a unique copy or not...... Anyway, if you want to keep it because you think it would be worth something of real value in the future then I will hope that you will take my advice and (if you are able) take it to be signed by her.

I think in the first book on one of the pages they spelt Percy Perry

and yeah about the book with the repeat pages.. by virtue of missing pages, it's no longer the book that anyone wants.

I had a copy of the first book-it was a paperback, long story why I no longer have it, will tell to anyone who messages me-where during the Christmas scene, Percy is mentioned biting into a silver sickle that is in his dessert made me wonder if it was supposed to be Sickle or a little figurine of a sickle-like what the Grim Reaper is supposed to carry.

I don't think I mentioned this before, but my first copy of Priosner of Azkaban had one page with the sentence just stops on one page and on the next page, its a whole new sentence! I had never known the rest of the sentence until I got my second copy of Prisoner of Azakaban. I had my first copy for five years! It was really weird seeing the rest of the sentence! I thought it was actually intentional, but apparently not. :shrug:

a quarter of the ink on the spine of my HBP hardcover 1st printing I got at Target is missing. It just says "Rowlin" and "Schola" for example. I'm exchanging it when I can find another 1st print

The title is fine on mine, but the little Scholastic sign on the bottom is half missing! I had never noticed that!

I don't understand how it can be deliberate, though - are we sure Jo wasn't having a joke at her own expense when she said that?

I'm pretty sure it was just a joke. Like saying, "I meant to do that." The phrasing just threw a lot of people off.

Little things like typos probably won't be worth much, as they will have happened in all of the books of that edition. But large printing errors like repeated pages are probably worth loads. I'd make sure you buy it without telling the cashier because I don't think shops are actually allowed to sell faulty goods.

I got told a story about a guy who did stamp collecting, so he went down to the post office to buy a sheet of stamps, so the woman behind the counter showed him a range of sheets for him to choose from and while he was inspecting them to see what designs he liked best he noticed that one of the stamps had been printed wrongly (I can't remember how, but I think the price was chopped off or something). So he goes to the cashier, "Actually, I'd just like that one." pointing to the faulty stamp, so she thinks hmm that's strange behaviour, so she inspects the stamp and finds out its faulty so has to cut it out of the sheet and through it away. The collector should have just asked for that whole sheet because then she wouldn't have noticed and he would have a stamp worth hundreds of pounds!


Hmmmm... what happened in your story could be that she looked at the stamp and decided that she wanted it and made up the part about not being aloud to sell it. The thing is they really are not supposed to sell stamps like that because if someone uses it in the mail then... it could cause a problem. My Uncle works for the U.S. post (I don't know if there rules are different from the U.K.'s or not) and he has said that the post office is not supposed to sell them, but that if one does slip by.... well... that one would hope that the buyer notices it and keeps it. He has actually told me that many clerks at various post offices.... when they see a stamp that has an error on it... will take and put them aside so that they can buy it themselves. He says that--- what they are supposed to do is destroy them.

A book with Printing errors such as the ones mentioned in this thread.... I would see very little value in them (as I have stated before). Partly because there are sooooooo many of them. It is sad but true. The only thing that a book like that shows me... is the rush/hurry that went into printing the books. The publisher simply got into to big of a hurry. This hurry causes many things.... one of which is Printing errors... the other is poor quality. Sorry, but I would highly doubt that a Harry Potter book with printing errors would be worth anything of real value without J.K.R.'s signature because there is just too many of them out there. I first saw this thread a few days ago and since then I have been keeping an eye out for these books.... and in the last couple of days I have seen more than a couple of dozen of them (and note... I didn't actually go out in search of these paticular books with these printing errors.)

im sure that it was just a mistake..i doubt that it will be worth anything in the near future..i would just take it back and get a new one.

My Goblet of Fire is missing pages 210-243.