Potter Chair sells for almost u00a320,000

J K Rowling just after she released her first book Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone

Writer J K Rowling also writes a letter to 'new owner of my chair', explaining how she was given four mismatched dining room chairs in 1995 and, because this one was the most comfortable, it ended up at her desk in front of her typewriter

A simply wizard chair that caused a stir amongst magicians and muggles alike sold for almost u00a320,000 after going under the hammer last month.

The chair that an impoverished JK Rowling sat on while writing the first two books in the Harry Potter series, The Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, sold for u00a319,555.00 on eBay.

The hand-painted chair was originally brought in 2002 for u00a315,000 at a charity event, called Chair-ish a Child, which was held in aid of the NSPCC. As part of the auction, which was hosted by Joanna Lumley, an array of famous people all donated chairs important to them.

Unusually, Rowling, who is normally protective of items connected to her wizard creation, donated the 1930s oak chair that she sat on as she created the Harry Potter phenomenon.

Matthew Ford, the art dealer who organised the sale of the chair, comments: "It's a chair you'd pay a tenner for in a junk shop but, historically, it's the most important chair in Muggledom, and probably one of the most exceptional and rare pieces of Harry Potter memorabilia ever likely to be offered for sale.

"To a Harry Potter fan this is as good as it gets. It is part of the story, part of J K Rowling's story. Whoever wins it is buying a piece of literary history."

Twenty per cent from the chair's sale will be donated to the charity Books Abroad, which sends free school books to impoverished countries around the world. In 2007, Rowling herself donated a rare full-set of signed Harry Potter books to the charity, which achieved u00a318,000 once sold at auction.

The unique chair has been personalised by Rowling herself and features several painted slogans and messages. Around the base of the seat reads: "I wrote Harry Potter while sitting on this chair."

Meanwhile, the back features the warning: "You may not find me pretty but don't judge on what you see." The chair is also adorned with a Scottish thistle on the seat, several Potter-style, lightning bolt scars and the name Gryffindor.

Proving its authenticity, the chair comes complete with a special Owl Mail signed by Rowling and addressed to the 'new owner of my chair'. The letter explains that she was given four mismatched dining room chairs in 1995 and, because it was the most comfortable, it was this one that ended up at her desk in front of her typewriter.
The author finishes off the letter with the comment: "My nostalgic side is sad to see you go but my back isn't."
During the period when she first acquired the chair, Rowling was a single mother, living in a Scottish council flat, surviving on benefits and struggling with depression.

Having recently finished Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, that same year the manuscript went on to be rejected by 12 different publishing houses.

It was finally accepted a year later and the rest, as they say, is magical history.

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