It is thought to be the fastest appreciating object of its kind in the world. Most recent versions show a cartoon image of a steam train, but the original depicted a photograph of such a train. What is it, what train is photographed, how much did the original first go on sale for and what is one worth today?

cayugarunner

Total guess here: is it the book art for the first Harry Potter? The train would be the Hogwarts Express. Jun 03 06, 7:40 AM

gmackematix

It's a good guess, so a bit of a yay, Cay! First editions of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" are thought to be the book to have appreciated in value the most rapidly. There were very few in that first run in 1997, and as Pottermania didn't take off until the third book, first editions of "The Chamber of Secrets" have also risen considerably in value. The Hogwarts Express is a fictional train, but I have heard that the first run had a photo of a real train on the cover. Parts of a yay are still available for anyone who can tell me anything else about that train or how much a first edition has actually risen in monetary value (with a source reference of course). Jun 05 06, 6:47 PM