Author JK Rowling has completed a set of handwritten fairytales which were mentioned in her last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Bound in brown morocco leather, and mounted with hand-chased silver ornaments and  gemstones, there are just seven individual copies - each quite different from the other - hand-written and illustrated by JK Rowling.
Hamilton & Inches is privileged to have been asked to hand-chase and apply the silver ornaments and gemstones to the front of these totally unique books. Panos Kirkos, the Hamilton & Inches chaser, spent over a week per book creating and hand-chasing the silver ornaments, which include a leaf, a human foot, a heart and a fountain.
Six of these books have been given to those most closely connected to the Harry Potter books during the last 17 years. The seventh copy will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on December 13th 2007. The volume of previously untold stories will be auctioned to raise money for The Children’s Voice, a campaign run by the Children’s High Level Group charity, which aims to make life better for vulnerable children across Europe.Sotheby’s have placed a reserve of £30,000 on the book although it is expected to go for far more than that.
JK Rowling says: “The Tales of Beedle the Bard is really a distillation of the themes found in the Harry Potter books, and writing it has been the most wonderful way to say goodbye to a world I have loved and lived in for 17 years.”
In a dedication written in the front of the book, she says: “Six of these books have been given to those most closely connected to the Harry Potter books during the last 17 years.  This seventh copy will be auctioned; the proceeds to help institutionalised children who are in desperate need of a voice.  So to whoever now owns this book, thank you – and fair fortune be yours!”
Stephen Paterson, Director of Hamilton & Inches said
“We were thrilled to be part of such an amazing  project. The very nature of the work we do in our silver workshops in Edinburgh, and in particular the work of Panos Kirkos, is totally unique and done completely by hand - complementing the handwritten tales and illustrations perfectly. We were honoured that JK Rowling trusted us to help her realise these books exactly as she had pictured them and hope that the seventh which is being auctioned, raises a lot of money for charity.”
For further information on the book to be auctioned please go to www.sothebys.com and on the charity www.thechildrensvoice.com.