Iconic books are texts revered as objects of power rather than just as words of instruction, information, or insight. In religious and secular rituals around the globe, people carry, show, wave, touch and kiss books and other texts, as well as read them. This blog chronicles such events and activities. (For more about iconic books, see the links to the Iconic Books Project at left.)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

J. K. Rowling's Tales of the Beedle Bard

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J.K. Rowling's Tales of the Beedle Bard began as a book referenced in one of the Harry Potter novels and now exists as seven iconic books. The book purchased by Amazon.com (for just under GBP£2 million/USD$4 million) draws on traditional medieval grimoire imagery, including silver ornaments and and a skull for an appropriately wizardly appearance. Amazon's announcement of its purchase of one of the seven books draws attention to its physical qualities in the second paragraph of the article:
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is extensively illustrated and handwritten by the bard herself--all 157 pages of it. It's bound in brown Moroccan leather and embellished with five hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones.
Bookbinders and collectors might be particularly interested in the large, detailed photos following the Amazon article.
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