Publisher Barry Cunningham’s copy of the hand-written, illustrated and personally inscribed book is number three of seven produced by author Rowling.
The book, a collection of fairy tales, was mentioned in the seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when it is left to Hermione Granger by Albus Dumbledore. After Rowling produced seven handwritten manuscripts as gifts, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was published for the general public.
Cunningham’s copy carries an estimate of £300,000-500,000 and will be auctioned at Sotheby's on December 13 as part of its English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations sale.
Personal Gift
The publisher was given his copy by Rowling to acknowledge his contribution to her success. He agreed to publish the first Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, when he was at publishing firm Bloomsbury. Sotheby’s said Rowling presented the hand-written books as a “personal gift to those most closely connected to the Harry Potter books.”
Rowling’s dedication in his copy of the book reads: “To Barry, the man who thought an overlong novel about a boy wizard in glasses might just sell… THANK YOU”.
The book, which Cunningham received wrapped in cloth in December 2007, is adorned with semi-precious stones, a sterling silver mounted skull and is bound in brown Morocco leather. The original packaging, in which his copy was delivered, is included as part of this lot.
In the same year he received his copy, a seventh was produced by Rowling specifically for sale at auction to raise money for her charity Lumos. It sold for £1.95m at Sotheby’s.
Sotheby’s said Cunningham “expressed sadness” in parting with the book, however he hopes to use the money raised from auction to give to his children as well as donating some of the funds to Rowling’s charity Lumos.
Philip Errington, director of Sotheby’s books and manuscripts department, said: “The personal resonance of this book makes this both an exceptional and highly desirable object to come to auction.”
