In The News
Amazon.com Buys Beedle the Bard for $3.98 Million
CharityUPDATE: 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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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!
Im sure we will know who it was soon enough, and as a side note jo’s illustration went for 34,000 pounds. WOWSERS!
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!
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
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!!!!!!!
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.
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!
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”.
All I have to say is “WOW”
The buyer is Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox according to another HP fan site.
congrats, Jo! :) 5,000% of the stimated price :D wow.
the auction site is currently displaying that the current price for the book is right over 3,400,000 pounds.
“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.
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 ;)
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.
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.
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
There is one lucky man/woman whoever was able to buy that book. And great news for the Children´s Voice charity.
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OMFG! That is PHENOMENAL! Just fantastic for the charity! I would love to know who got it!! Lucky devil!