J.K. Rowling Appeals to Fans for Help in Theft of Rare “Potter” Postcard

by · Published · Updated

This morning, news broke across the Internet that a rare piece of Harry Potter memorabilia has been stolen in a high-profile theft. During a Birmingham break-in during the month of April, a postcard hand-penned by J.K. Rowling featuring an 800-word story about James and Sirius was stolen, along with some jewelry.

Most fans first learned of the theft when Rowling herself retweeted a notice by the West Midlands Police about the theft. Rowling emphasizes that the owner of this postcard won it in a charity auction and that anyone buying stolen merchandise has her stern disapproval.

 

 

Though the theft was committed in April, police have only today released details of the crime in the hopes of gaining the help of the fan community.

 

 

Fans will remember that the postcard first set fandom abuzz in 2008 when the original postcard was sold for £25,000. Shortly after the auction, the postcard was collected into a limited-edition book entitled What’s Your Story?, featuring postcard-length stories by Rowling and 12 additional authors. The auction raised funds for English PEN (which supports the writers freedoms Rowling referred to in her tweet) and Dyslexia Action. If you didn’t read the prequel the first time around – or just haven’t looked at it in nine years – you can read it right here.

PC Paul Jauncey of the West Midlands Police emphasized the importance of Potter fans in cracking this case:

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.

With that in mind, let’s all dig deep for our inner Cormoran Strike – and see if we can’t help the owner recover this one-of-a-kind item.

We’ll keep you updated as this story develops.

Jessica J.

I've been making magic at MuggleNet since 2012, when I first joined the staff as a News intern. I've never wavered from the declaration in my childhood journal, circa October 2000: "I LOVE Harry Potter! If I clean my room, my mom says she'll make me a dinner a wizard would love!" Proud Gryffindor; don't hate.