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Amazon.com Buys Beedle the Bard for $3.98 Million

Charity
Posted by: Melissa
December 13, 2007, 06:17 PM

UPDATE: It has now been revealed that Amazon.com bought this book, and will be adding pictures and reviews of each of the fairy tales soon. The permanent link will eventually redirect to http://www.amazon.com/beedlebard. The note already contains several high-quality pictures and a video reading the note from JK Rowling inside the cover, and reveals that the book is 157 handwritten pages. Amazon.com editors are now taking questions about the tales on the site's discussion boards. Amazon has said it won't be publishing the book unless JK Rowling decides to do so, but it will be taking the book on tour to schools and libraries so children can see it themselves. (This was posted in their message boards.)

Our previous article of today's events is below:

The auction for The Tales of Beedle the Bard, JK Rowling's original, handwritten book of wizarding fairy tales, just happened at Sotheby's in London, and the lucky winner walked away with the item for the bargain price of 1,950,000 pounds, or nearly $4 million.

In a Sotheby's release, the auction house said that this is the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by JK Rowling and indeed for any children’s book - it is also the highest price ever paid at auction for any modern literary manuscript. It was a highly contested match between six bidders; the winner was a representative of London fine art dealer Hazlitt Gooden & Fox.

J.K. Rowling said of the sale, "I am stunned and ecstatic. This will mean so much to children in desperate need of help. It means Christmas has come early for me.”

The copy was one of seven handwritten editions and the only one to be made available for sale publicly. The other six have gone to six people instrumental to Harry since his inception. The leatherbound, handwritten tome was encrusted moonstones, as would be representative of "mothers, lovers and the power of dreams." All proceeds will benefit The Children's Voice Campaign charity, instituted by J.K. Rowling, which goes to help aid children who most need an advocate in the world.

In the release, Dr. Philip Errington, Deputy Director, Sotheby’s Books and Manuscripts department said: “Sotheby’s has been thrilled to work with JK Rowling and The Children’s Voice in selling this wonderful manuscript. This is one of the most exciting pieces of children’s literature to have passed through Sotheby’s. We have to reach back 80 years to find a comparison when we sold the manuscript of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on behalf of the original Alice.”

In addition a set of signed Comic Relief books went for 1,125 GBP, and an original drawing of the main Harry Potter characters was sold for 34,100 GBP (or three times what was expected).

Also, a Reuters video from the reception, with glimpses of Evanna Lynch and Bonnie Wright in the crowd, may be seen here.

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Comments (153) | Average 3.3 (353 votes) Browse all Recent Charity News
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Ryan

OMFG! That is PHENOMENAL! Just fantastic for the charity! I would love to know who got it!! Lucky devil!

Posted by Ryan on December 13, 2007 @ 09:03 AM
BD

Sotheby’s site reports “Hammer Price with Buyer’s Premium: 2,204,500 GBP” – not sure if this includes something above abnd beyond what Melissa reports…

Well worth it, I say!

Posted by BD on December 13, 2007 @ 09:04 AM
Sammy

Im sure we will know who it was soon enough, and as a side note jo’s illustration went for 34,000 pounds. WOWSERS!

Posted by Sammy on December 13, 2007 @ 09:13 AM
Confederate Lady

I am impressed, but it’s not wholly unexpected, is it? Such a book, and such a writer! And all for charity….........amazing! You go, JO!

Posted by Confederate Lady on December 13, 2007 @ 09:15 AM
Becca

WOW!

I knew it was worth way more than £50,000. I am so shocked but very very happy.

That’s amazing! I shall spend the rest of the day happy. :D

Posted by Becca on December 13, 2007 @ 09:16 AM
NoMoney

Aha.

Posted by NoMoney on December 13, 2007 @ 09:20 AM
NoMoney

AHA

Posted by NoMoney on December 13, 2007 @ 09:23 AM
hermionegirl

WOW!!!!!!!

That’s amazing! I guess I can’t really be to rurprised…amazing famous auther, I’m sure a wonderful book, which is also very rare.

2 million pounds! and all to charity! You ROCK Jo!!!!!!!

Posted by hermionegirl on December 13, 2007 @ 09:28 AM
ImHermione1027

Wonderful! A very generous Christmas gift for The Children’s Voice from that bidder. I am curious to find out who it was though.. I am sure we will know soon enough.

Posted by ImHermione1027 on December 13, 2007 @ 09:30 AM
aillinne

Oh my God… This is one of most expensive books or THE most expensive book one can get as Christmas gift !!! I’m extremly curious to know who bought it!

Posted by aillinne on December 13, 2007 @ 09:31 AM
BD

OK – that’s odd – when I went back to the Sotheby’s site, the amount of the auction changed: now it says “Hammer Price with Buyer’s Premium: 1,950,000 GBP”.

Posted by BD on December 13, 2007 @ 09:36 AM
Tammy

All I have to say is “WOW”

The buyer is Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox according to another HP fan site.

Posted by Tammy on December 13, 2007 @ 09:38 AM
Moon

congrats, Jo! :) 5,000% of the stimated price :D wow.

Posted by Moon on December 13, 2007 @ 09:42 AM
margaret

the auction site is currently displaying that the current price for the book is right over 3,400,000 pounds.

Posted by margaret on December 13, 2007 @ 09:47 AM
Dawn

“Fantastic Beasts” and “Quidditch Through the Ages” raised over 15 million pounds… ironically, “Beedle” would have raised more for charity if it was available to everyone, not just millionaires.

Posted by Dawn on December 13, 2007 @ 09:47 AM
Mistral

I wholly agree with you Confederate Lady :) this is so terrific! Apart from being happy for “Children’s Voice” I am so thrilled for Jo – for having such a brilliant idea with the writing of “Beedle the Bard” and giving it up to auction! Cheers for Jo! Also thanks a lot Melissa – for your quick update – you knew we wanted to know as soon as possible ;)

Posted by Mistral on December 13, 2007 @ 09:51 AM
MM

The news says the buyer was Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox, who are art dealers and also represent private buyers, so whoever won the book obviously wants to remain private.

Posted by MM on December 13, 2007 @ 10:08 AM
roonwit

1950000 is the price. The pre-publicity said that no buyers premium would be charged. 3,400,000 is what was raised in the whole auction (including a drawing by JKR and a few other Potter-related lots.

Posted by roonwit on December 13, 2007 @ 10:14 AM
aislingyngaio

There is no buyer’s premium on the sale of this lot, so the price is actually just £1.95mil. I’ve blogged about my experience of the auction: http://aislingyngaio.blogspot.com/2007/12/tales-of-beedle-bard-auction.html

Posted by aislingyngaio on December 13, 2007 @ 10:14 AM
Accio_HP7

There is one lucky man/woman whoever was able to buy that book. And great news for the Children´s Voice charity.

Posted by Accio_HP7 on December 13, 2007 @ 10:26 AM
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