First edition, only printing, inscribed by the author on the first page, "to Monique, J. K. Rowling". The souvenir auction catalogue includes many photographs of the manuscript and a short introduction by the author.
With the conclusion of the Harry Potter series in July 2007, J. K. Rowling decided that, having made reference to a book of wizarding fairy-tales within Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she would write The Tales of Beedle the Bard and present individually handwritten copies to six people most closely connected to the series of books.
A seventh copy was created for sale at auction to raise funds for "The Children's Voice" charity (now Lumos). The auction house published a souvenir catalogue and, as part of pre-sale publicity, there was a party held on 10 December 2007. During the event, the author was kept busy greeting guests and also read one of the stories. Despite these demands on her time, a small number of copies of the souvenir catalogue were signed for a few guests.
After a long and protracted bidding war, the successful bidder secured the manuscript for £1.95 million on 13 December 2007 - a world record for a modern literary manuscript and a world record for a children's book. In 2008, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was published, but this had not been the author's original intention. This souvenir catalogue was to have been the only insight into the manuscript. Signed copies, together with a pictorial badge, are not common. Two
First edition, only printing, inscribed by the author on the first page, "to Monique, J. K. Rowling". The souvenir auction catalogue includes many photographs of the manuscript and a short introduction by the author.
With the conclusion of the Harry Potter series in July 2007, J. K. Rowling decided that, having made reference to a book of wizarding fairy-tales within Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she would write The Tales of Beedle the Bard and present individually handwritten copies to six people most closely connected to the series of books.
A seventh copy was created for sale at auction to raise funds for "The Children's Voice" charity (now Lumos). The auction house published a souvenir catalogue and, as part of pre-sale publicity, there was a party held on 10 December 2007. During the event, the author was kept busy greeting guests and also read one of the stories. Despite these demands on her time, a small number of copies of the souvenir catalogue were signed for a few guests.
After a long and protracted bidding war, the successful bidder secured the manuscript for £1.95 million on 13 December 2007 - a world record for a modern literary manuscript and a world record for a children's book. In 2008, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was published, but this had not been the author's original intention. This souvenir catalogue was to have been the only insight into the manuscript. Signed copies, together with a pictorial badge, are not common. Two photographs taken by a professional photographer are also included.
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Small octavo. Original white wrappers, spine lettered in white, front wrapper lettered in blue, wrappers with design embossed in blue. Together with pictorial badge "I have seen Beedle the Bard...", 40 mm diameter with pin. Together with two photographs, each 230 x 151 mm. of Rowling at the event signed by the photographer James Peltekian on verso.
Illustrations from photographs throughout.
Foot of spine very slightly rubbed minor mark to rear wrapper: a near-fine copy.
Errington B15(a).