The Bookseller.com

9th January 2009

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Amazon.com buys rare Rowling book

14.12.07 Anna Richardson

Amazon.com has bought J K Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, one of only seven handwritten books of fairy tales from the Harry Potter author.

The online retailer bought the only copy for sale at an auction held by Sotheby's in London yesterday (13th December) for £1,950,000, and the proceeds will go to Rowling's charity The Children's Voice Campaign.

Amazon.com is now displaying the first images of the book on its website, and will be adding more images and reviews of each fairy tale throughout the day on Amazon.com/beedlebard.

The Amazon.com page also includes a video with a note from Rowling "to the new owner" and discussion forum, with a number of debates already underway, ranging from the subjects "pathetic" to "What will you do with the book?"

The book was described by Sotheby's as bound in brown morocco leather and mounted with hand-chased silver ornaments and seven moonstones.

Anna Richardson harry potter amazon J K Rowling