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Amazon Unveiled as $4M Buyer of Rowling Fairy Tales

Proceeds from the handwritten book will go to charity

By Laila Weir,  Newser User

Posted Dec 14, 2007 3:54 PM CST
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(Newser) – The Internet giant of book sales revealed today that it was behind the purchase of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" in auction yesterday. Amazon paid $3.98 million for the handwritten manuscript -- a record for a children's book and for any modern literary manuscript, not to mention JK Rowling herself, reports Bloomberg. The money will go to a charity co-founded by the "Harry Potter" author.

The book is a collection of fairytales mentioned in a Harry Potter novel. Amazon has displayed photos of the manuscript, one of just seven copies, on its Web site. "Even before establishing her charity, J.K. Rowling had done the world a rare and immeasurably valuable service -- enlarging forever our concept of the way books can touch people," Amazon's Jeff Bezos said.

In this undated photo issued Thursday Nov. 1, 2007, by London auction house Sotheby's, showing a page from a book, a hand-written and hand-illustrated copy of 'The Tales Of Beedle The Bard' by JK Rowling, which will be auctioned in December 2007 to raise money for a children's charity. There...
In this undated photo issued Thursday Nov. 1, 2007, by London auction house Sotheby's, showing a page from a book, a hand-written and hand-illustrated copy of 'The Tales Of Beedle The Bard' by JK Rowling,...   (Associated Press)
A member of staff displays the manuscript 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' by J.K. Rowling, at the end of an auction at Sotheby's auction house in London, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The manuscript, a collection of wizarding fairytales, handwritten and extensively illustrated by the author, was sold for...
A member of staff displays the manuscript 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' by J.K. Rowling, at the end of an auction at Sotheby's auction house in London, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The manuscript, a collection...   (Associated Press)
A member of staff displays the manuscript 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' by J.K. Rowling, at the end of an auction at Sotheby's auction house in London, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The manuscript, a collection of wizarding fairytales, handwritten and extensively illustrated by the author, was sold for...
A member of staff displays the manuscript 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' by J.K. Rowling, at the end of an auction at Sotheby's auction house in London, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The manuscript, a collection...   (Associated Press)
Auctioneer Peter Selley, centre, auctions the manuscript 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' by J.K. Rowling, displayed on the right by a member of staff during an auction at Sotheby's auction house in London, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The manuscript, a collection of wizarding fairytales, handwritten and extensively illustrated...
Auctioneer Peter Selley, centre, auctions the manuscript 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' by J.K. Rowling, displayed on the right by a member of staff during an auction at Sotheby's auction house in London,...   (Associated Press)
British writer J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series of books, poses for photographers with a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a volume of unpublished stories which she authored, prior to a reception in central London, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. The Tales of Beedle the...
British writer J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series of books, poses for photographers with a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a volume of unpublished stories which she authored, prior...   (Associated Press)
In this undated photo issued Thursday Nov. 1, 2007, by London auction house Sotheby's, showing a page of a book, hand-written and hand-illustrated copy of 'The Tales Of Beedle The Bard' by JK Rowling, which will be auctioned in December 2007 to raise money for a children's charity. There will...
In this undated photo issued Thursday Nov. 1, 2007, by London auction house Sotheby's, showing a page of a book, hand-written and hand-illustrated copy of 'The Tales Of Beedle The Bard' by JK Rowling,...   (Associated Press)
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Harry Potter • JK Rowling • book • Jeff Bezos • The Tales of Beedle the Bard • Amazon.com

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