This is where the magic and witchcraft began

The humble chair JK Rowling sat on while writing the first two books of the Harry Potter series is going on the auction block in New York City on April 6.

But Muggles will have to dig deep. The opening bid at the Heritage Auctions sale is $45,000.

It's one of four old chairs given to the starving artist in 1995 for her Edinburgh, Scotland, flat. She used it while she penned "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

It's embellished and signed by Rowling in gold and rose colours. She also painted these words on the seat: "I wrote/Harry Potter/while sitting/on this chair."

Heritage says the seller is an English collector who wishes to remain anonymous.

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