UK first editions?

[hokers99]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C4758
From: hokers99
Subject: UK first editions?
Date: 7/21/00 10:32 am  (ET)

Sorry if this is off topic, but I have a quick question about the first
edition Harry Potter books.
Should we be buying them up left right and centre and selling them to
eager american book collectors?
The reason I ask is that I got a signed copy, though it is a second
print, when I went into my local bookshop and JKR was doing a signing. I
thought I would have a look and ebay has signed firsts going for over
'400! Various other websites are also saying that the US first edition
is not a true first etc. So should I invest '9.99 a time, about 15USD
in a few firsts that are in my local bookshop?
Can anyone advise me?
Cheers
Steve