In The News
Harry Potter Prequel Sells for 25,000 Pounds at Charity Auction, Video of Excerpt Now Online
BooksEarly reports are starting to surface tonight from the charity auction at Waterstone’s, featuring the special card from author J.K. Rowling. A new 800 word prequel to the Harry Potter series sold tonight for 25,000 pounds ($48,855) reports Bloomberg.com. The article continues to note the “buyer was an absentee bidder. More than 100 guests attended the invitation-only event, called ``What’s Your Story?’’ and run by Sotheby’s auctioneer Edward Rising at the Waterstone’s branch in Piccadilly.” “ UPDATE: As reported previously, one of 13 cards donated for this charity event in London, England, AFP now has more on the prequel involving two of our favorite Marauders set 3 years before Harry was born. The article reports that the prequel story involves Sirius Black and James Potter who “are confronted by two policemen after a high-speed motorcycle chase, and evade the authorities using their broomsticks and magic.” ( Editor’s Note: A motorcycle! No word if that is indeed the motorcycle of later flying legend, but very exciting business indeed) J.K. Rowling is also quoted in the article as saying “I had great fun writing the card and I’m absolutely delighted that it has raised 25,000 pounds for two such worthy causes.” UPDATE 2 Lizo, now from BBC, has a new video report online, where he reads an excerpt of the prequel whichyou can watch via this link. In the excerpt, we hear a bit on James and Sirius as they are confronted by the two police officers in front of a dark alley. UPDATE 3: The video is now available here in our galleries.
We are working to find out more about the events at the auction, including the contents of the card,which will be placed online tomorrow for all fans to read via this link to Waterstone’s. This prequel will also be part of a book that will be published August 7th containing all 13 of the cards, proceeds to benefit charities English Pen and Dyslexia Action. You can pre- order this book from Waterstones (who will ship internationally) via this link. Stay tuned!
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I’m surprised it didn’t go for higher. It would have been good for the charities at least. Still, that’s a lot of money.
Huh! I just may have made first for once! I personally connot wait to read this tomorrow. Hope the link will work from my work computer. (Crossing fingers)
Hurray, Marauders!
Holy crap! 25,000 for 800 words!?
that’s 31.25 pounds (about $60) a WORD!
Personally I thought It’d be more than that but then again its only 1 card…
I thought it’d be more than that too! But they’ll make a lot more from the books =)
TLC does anyone know if Jo was there? Please say no please say no!
Wow, I’m glad it made that much all the better fr charity help wish i had the money to buy it :( lol
Thats great! I thought it would go for a lot more though I’m a little disappointed.
WOAH that is a lot of money!! I’m sure it is worth every penny though.
Can’t wait to read it tomorrow xD
I suspect we all expected it to go for more after Beedle The Bard, but it does depend who was there to bid on the night and whether more than one bidder wanted it. But I would imagine that it will earn more than that from the sale of the postcard sets.
Drumsticks? Holy moley, was Sirius really Stubby Boardman after all?
That’s rather a lot of money! Even if people were expecting it to go for more- it’s nowhere near as precious as the fairytales because this will be released to the public.
I wonder who bought it :)
IMO this shows just how much pottermania has died over the last few months. If she’d done this right after Book 7 I guarentee you there would be mass hysteria and the card would have sold for waaaaay more. But still, $50k for charities is an amazing thing.
I really hope jo goes into more detail of the old order of the pheonix and the anventures of the marauders. That would be awesome to read in the future!
A police chase? Lol I can’t wait to read it, I bet it’s hilarious! I’m so happy it raised so much money for the charities.
i wonder how the 13 cards will be published in august. will it be in a book or something and have illustratins and a fancy cover
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Moving the HBP film to July 2009 is:
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Yay! That’s really good. I think I was expecting it would sell for more but because the event was invitation only… anyway it is still really good. I can’t wait to read it!