POLICE have issued an appeal to help them track down a rare Harry Potter prequel stolen during a burglary in Kings Heath in April.
The 800-word story, personally hand written by Rowling, sold for £25,000 at a charity auction at Sotheby’s in 2008.
This auction was held to raise funds for the charity English PEN which works to ‘defend and promote freedom of expression, and to remove barriers to literature.’
The prequel, reportedly set three years before Harry Potter’s birth, features James Potter, the wizard’s father and his godfather Sirius Black as teenagers escaping ‘muggle’ police officers on broomsticks.
Investigating Officer PC Paul Jauncey said: “The only people who will buy this unique piece are true Harry Potter fans.
“We are appealing to anyone who sees, or is offered this item for sale, to contact police.”
Police are hoping the appeal goes far and wide – reaching Harry Potter fans throughout the world.
The author herself helped to spread the appeal by sharing it on twitter and asking her Potterhead followers to not buy the stolen piece if offered it.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the postcard or information about the break-in is asked to contact West Midlands Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, who can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 – quoting crime number 20BW/83503C/17
