[SciFiWire] Rowling's Tales Nets $4M

[Cassie Hughes]

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/news_thumbnails/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows_cover_tn.jpgA handwritten illustrated book of wizardry by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling fetched a record 1.95 million British pounds ($3.98 million) at auction in London on Dec. 12, nearly 40 times its expected price, the Reuters news service reported.

More... (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=5&id=46350)

[prydain]

For some reason I find it a bit appalling someone would hand over $4 million for a little book simply because it's connected to Harry Potter, but at least the money is going towards a good cause.

[Mr Pointy]

Turns out that Amazon was the anonymous buyer...
“The company bought the book as a thank you for everything JK Rowling has done for literature, and for encouraging children to read and for parents to read with their children,” added Damien Peachy, a spokesman for Amazon.co.uk, said. “We wanted to celebrate that.”
Amazon says it bought 2m Rowling book as "thank you" - Times Online (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3051281.ece)

Blimey! In my day a nice bouquet of flowers was a sufficient "Thank you" :)

[N4H]

I had to look around a bit for the answer to the obvious question, but Rowling retains the publishing rights.

I won't be surprised to see this in a book store sooner, or later. This is great pre-publicity for it.

I wonder what kind of security Amazon has for it, because you just know there's people out there who would slip it onto the internet.

They're going to do readings. I'll bet there will be big, burly security guards frisking audience members for recording devices.