Typo in Harrius Potter et Camera Secretorum

[Rufus Coppertop]

In a description of Harry's broomstick, in English it says, "top of the range".

In Latin it says "quo non erat genus praestantius".

Surely this translates to, "which was not of an outstanding type".

Is the non here a misprint or typo?

[tienyew]

Not really. 'Praestantius' is a neuter comparative for praestans. And so 'quo non erat genus praestantius' would literally translate to 'than which there was not a type more outstanding'.

[adrianus]

"top of the range" "quo non erat genus praestantius"

Is that correct Latin? // Estne bonum Latinum?

You don't say (in my opinion) // Non dicis (ut opinor) "a broomstick than which there was no type more outstanding" // "manubrium scoparum quo non erat genus praestantius"
Nonnè dicis (meâ sententiâ) // You do say rather (I think) "a broomstick of such a type than which there was no more outstanding one [type]" // "manubrium scoparum talis generis quo non erat praestantius"

Why not these? // Pro "top-of-the-range broomstick", cur non haec?
"manubrium scoparum praestantissimi generis"
"manubrium scoparum maximum seriei"
"manubrium scoparum ê praestantissimâ notâ"

[Rufus Coppertop]

Of course it's a comparative! Thanks!

[ptolemyauletes]

Adrianus,
I think your correction is more stylistic than anything. 'quo non erat genus praestantius' works fine as a complete sentence, which it, in essence, is. There was not type more outstanding than this. The Latin is fine, but another author might well change it to your first suggestion.