Harry Potter fans from across the globe will have the chance to own a rare piece of memorabilia when the boots worn by author
J.K. Rowling as she penned the first book of her best-selling series cross the auction block in October. The boots will be available for online bidding in a timed auction beginning Friday, October 21 through Sunday, October 30 on Proxibid (
www.proxibid.com/boots ).
The boots were acquired by an elementary school student in December 1999 as part of a school project. The student sent a questionnaire entitled "
A Shoe Questionnaire," which asked about the "life" of a famous pair of shoes to Scholastic Press, the United States publisher of the Harry Potter series. This questionnaire was then forwarded to J.K. Rowling. Upon receipt, Ms. Rowling completed the questionnaire and in a remarkable gesture forwarded the boots along with her response back to the student. After 12 years in the student's possession, she has decided to share the boots with Harry Potter enthusiasts from across the globe via this online auction.
The boots have been encased in a protective glass enclosure, made specifically for them, since December 1999. They show signs of wear, as Ms. Rowling wore them quite often before sending them to the student. According to the questionnaire, "
My owner was wearing me when she wrote several chapters of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," and I liked that because it gave me a rest. She also wore me when she was a teacher, and one boy made fun of me, which I didn't appreciate."
