J. K. Rowling's contributions to charity auctions

Over the years J. K. Rowling participated in various auctions and some of the items sold contained canon. She also provided various material for charity and exhibitions.

Items created by J.K. Rowling specifically for sale at auctions

• A 93 words autographed card providing information on the then upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix auctioned on December 12, 2002
• A miniature book containing her drawings and short extracts from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone auctioned on November 1, 2004
• The Ballad of Nearly Headless Nick, a two-page authorial copy of thirty-two line poem in four stanzas cut from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, auctioned on March 24, 2005
• A Hand-drawn genealogical tree for the Black family auctioned on February 21, 2006
• The Moonstone copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard auctioned December 13, 2007
• The Harry Potter prequel auctioned June 10, 2008
• A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone containing hand drawings and annotations (with a total of 43 personal additions: 20 original illustrations as well as comments scrawled in the margins) by J.K. Rowling was sold at an auction for £150,000 in 2013. It was later exhibited at the Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum.
• The ‘Lumos Maxima’ Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet, based on her designs auctioned on December 10, 2013

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‘Lumos Maxima’ Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet

The Black Family Tree

Moonstone copy

Miniature book.

First edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone annotated by Rowling.

First edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone annotated by Rowling.

Other elements derived from auctions

• A copy of an edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with a dedication of J.K. Rowling to her father was offered at auction at Sotheby’s New York on 10 December 2003. It was inscribed on the dedication page ‘Dear Dad If I had said ‘Ronald (Weasley) Ridley’ they would have tracked the poor bloke down… but that’s why Ron’s called Ron of course! Happy Father’s Day 2000 and lots of love from your first born JKRowling xxxxxxxxx’. There is also a sketch of a hand (labelled ‘Pesticide’) reaching for a running gnome (also labelled).

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Dedication to her father in 2000 from a copy of Goblet of Fire that was later auctioned.

Photocopied typescript of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Elements provided for charity

• J.K. Rowling produced a fine pencil drawing of some of her characters for the BBC charity Children in Need in 1999, it was later auctioned.
• Rowling explained her favourite scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in The Birthday Book. Royalties from The Birthday Book went to The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts.
• Rowling designed a glass pane inspired by her Wizarding World in aid of Give Light, a project supporting the renewal of St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, London, England in 2008.
• A handprint and a drawing of her handprint with symbols from her Wizarding World was created by J.K. Rowling to raise funds for Tilly Lockey who lost her hands to meningitis at the age of 15 months. It was auctioned off on Sept 5th, 2009.

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Drawing of some of her characters for Children in Need.

Glass pane inspired by her Wizarding World.

Rowling's handprint

Elements provided for exhibitions

• Drawing of the Sorting Hat on Hicklebees "author doors" in San Jose, that only actual authors can draw on (everyone else has to draw on the floor). Rowling made several appearances at Hicklebees (starting in 1998).
• Drawing of Pomona Sprout at Phyllis Lewis's memorial exhibition.
• During the exhibition Writing Britain at the British Library a draft of the 6th chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was showcased.
• The exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic opened at the British Library on 20 October 2017 featured Rowling's original drafts and drawings such as the handwritten first draft of Chapter 17 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, handwritten list of subject teachers and Hippogriff names, a sketch of Hogwarts, her synopsis of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (it was typed by J.K. Rowling to accompany the opening chapters and circulated among prospective publishers; a copy was submitted to Bloomsbury Publishing and was a significant step in convincing them to offer J.K. Rowling her first contract) as well as material which inspired her like Culpeper’s English Physician; and Complete Herbal (J.K. Rowling used the herbal compiled by Nicholas Culpeper when seeking inspiration for naming her herbs and potions). Pieces from illustrator Jim Kay were also be on display, as well as original manuscripts and editorial notes from Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury. To accompany the exhibition, a book was published and a documentary broadcasted. In February 2018, the exhibition was also featured on the online Google Arts & Culture platform.

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Sorting Hat at Hicklebee's in San Jose.

Professor Sprout.

Sneak peek (the full piece will go on display when the exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic opens on 20 October) of an early draft of the Sorting Hat song from the first Harry Potter story.