A near fine signed first American edition, first printing of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, flat-signed by J. K. Rowling on the half-title page and bearing the official hologram authentication label. This copy was signed by Rowling at the book’s release event during a special tea party held at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. The Tales of Beedle the Bard was published simultaneously in the U.K. and U.S. on 4 December 2008.
The release was celebrated at a tea party event at the National Library of Scotland attended by around 250 pupils from 10 local schools, alongside five American children who had won a Scholastic-hosted competition. These winners queued to have their copies personally inscribed by Rowling. These signed copies from the 2008 event are exceptionally rare and represent the only known instances of the U.S. edition signed at release.
In 2015, three signed copies of the American first edition—retained from the 2008 release event—were offered as exclusive rewards in the Lumos “Help Kids with Disabilities” crowdfunding campaign. This campaign raised over $57,000 to support children with disabilities attending school and was an important moment in the history of signed copies of the first American edition. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of wizarding fairy tales including The Tale of the Three Brothers, featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Rowling took no royalties from the publication; all net proceeds were donated to The Children’s High Level Group (now Lumos), the charity she co-founded to support vulnerable children in Eastern Europe.
Original pictorial boards in brown, with cover artwork by Mary GrandPré and interior illustrations by Rowling. Stated “First American edition, December 2008” with complete number line to “1” on the copyright page. Priced $12.99 on rear board.
Near fine condition, slightly pushed corners and bruising evident to the front edge of the upper board. White page edges, an unread copy. Boldly signed on the half-title page, with accompanying J. K. Rowling hologram affixed to the upper left hand corner.
Full authentication and collector card provided by The Harry Potter Specialist. Comes in a half-leather clamshell box.
An excellent and ultra rare signed American first edition, first printing, acquired from an attendee at the National Library of Scotland for the 2008 Edinburgh launch.
