Books Valued at Almost $100,000 Stolen from English Bookshop

A theft of books valued at around £70,000 (almost US $100,000) occurred at a family bookshop in England the night of January 8-9. The size is quite impactful for the family-owned business. These were apparently the shop's most valuable books, a sign the thieves new what they were looking for. Two thieves broke into the back of the store and exited about half an hour later with the group of valuable books in hand.

The Norfolk Police provided a list of the stolen books and their estimated values, including the following:

Hardcover Bloomsbury first edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in a red custom box worth around £40,000.

Hardcover signed first edition of Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett worth around £9,000.

Set of four first editions of Winnie the Pooh in a black custom box worth around £5,000.

Hardcover first edition of The Hobbit from 1937 worth around £7,000.

First impression of The Great Gatsby from 1925 in a dark blue custom case worth around £2,000.

Paperback copy of Brief History of Time from 1983 with a thumbprint signature by Stephen Hawking.

Two first editions of the Gunslinger by Stephen King worth around £2,000 each.

Sketchbook from the 1820s-1840s by an unknown artist including pencil and water colour sketches.

A spokesperson for the Norfolk Police stated, "I am urging people, especially book dealers or those working in specialist book shops, to be vigilant in case they are offered for sale."