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LONDON - Sotheby's auctioneers displayed a rare copy of J.K. Rowling's book The Tales of Beedle the Bard on Tuesday, ahead of a charity auction on December 13 when the work is expected top fetch up to 50,000 pounds (NZ$135,000).
The volume, bound in brown leather and decorated with a silver skull and moonstones, is a hand-written collection of fairytales mentioned in the Harry Potter author's last wizard saga.
Of the five wizarding fairytales, only one - The Tale of the Three Brothers -- is told in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Rowling, author of the teenage wizard stories that have sold more than 350 million copies and made her the first billionaire author, has given the other six copies of the book away.
The buyer of the copy on sale will not be given copyright and reproduction will be prohibited. The proceeds will go to Rowling's children's charity.
- REUTERS
