DECEMBER 2002
HARRY POTTER 'TEASER' TO BE AUCTIONED AT SOTHEBY'S ON 12 DECEMBER 2002: ALL PROCEEDS TO BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL
The plot of J K Rowling's latest Harry Potter book has been kept heavily under wraps, until now. A 93 word handwritten 'teaser' by the author will be auctioned at Sotheby's on 12 December with all proceeds going to Book Aid International.
The card gives an insight into the plot of the next Harry Potter book - 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' and has a reserve price of £5,000-£6,000. This glimpse into the future of the young magician includes the words: "Ron... broom... sacked... house- elf... new... teacher... dies... sorry"
Book Aid International's director, Sara Harrity, commented,
"We are absolutely delighted by the news - it's a wonderful Christmas present for readers in some of the world's poorest countries. The auction proceeds will allow us to provide around 5,000 books for children and adults around the world."
By putting together this card JK Rowling has harnessed the tidal wave of interest in the next Harry Potter book to be used as a force for good. There are overwhelming book shortages throughout the developing world and this is the challenge that Book Aid International strives to meet. Each year the charity provides 750,000 books to support readers and learners in more than 40 countries around the world.
And these books are changing lives - as Campson Chikwanda, an A-level student from Zimbabwe, felt inspired to tell us recently:
"Words cannot describe how I felt when I read your books. This is the beginning of a different life-style altogether."
The Harry Potter card was produced at a Society of Authors conference earlier this year where a number of authors and illustrators were asked to submit items for auction to help benefit Book Aid International.
The card has aroused interest around the globe and a group bid has been put together by Harry Potter fans at the US website: www.the-leaky-cauldron.org Over 1,000 people have put donations together to ensure that the group bid is successful.
Book Aid International is able to make a big difference for such a small amount of money because of the high level of support it receives from publishers in the UK. JK Rowling's publishers, Bloomsbury, feature among the charity's regular supporters. In the autumn of this year Bloomsbury, and their subsidiary A&C Black, gave away 40,000 children's books - including a number of Harry Potters.
Book Aid International supports local initiatives by providing books for readers of all ages in 40 of the poorest countries in the world. We make books available to schools, mobile and community libraries, hospitals, refugee camps and a range of other organisations working to support education and training.
And in the longer term we are working towards a sustainable solution to the problem of book shortages by supporting the development of the local book trade. The aim is that locally produced and culturally relevant books should be made available for readers in Africa and beyond.
Book Aid International is also working to influence key players in the UK and internationally to give greater recognition to the essential role that libraries have to play in development.
Notes to editors:
J K Rowling's Harry Potter card is to be auctioned as lot 517 of the Sotheby's English Literature, History, Private Press and Children's books catalogue on Thursday 12th December. Session commences 2.30pm. Estimated auction time for lot 517 is 4.30pm.
http://search.sothebys.com/jsps/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?sale_number=L02307&live_lot_id=517