Harry Potter prequel stolen in burglary

A Harry Potter prequel handwritten on a postcard by author J.K. Rowling has been stolen in a burglary in Birmingham, England, the media reported on Friday.

The manuscript was penned on both sides of an A5 card for a charity auction nine years ago and sold for 25,000 pounds ($32,130), the BBC reported.

The untitled 800-word work was taken from Howard Road, Kings Heath.

Reportedly set three years before Harry Potter's birth, it features the schoolboy wizard's father James Potter, and godfather Sirius Black, when they were teenagers.

They are confronted by two "muggle" policemen after a high-speed motorbike chase but manage to escape on broomsticks.

The manuscript was stolen during a break-in between April 13 and 24, West Midlands Police said.

The force is issuing a plea for information almost one month on, in the hope "the appeal goes far and wide among Harry Potter fans throughout the world"., reports the BBC.

"The only people who will buy this unique piece are true Harry Potter fans," investigating officer PC Paul Jauncey said.

"We are appealing to anyone who sees, or is offered this item for sale, to contact police."

The prequel was among several works donated by authors to an auction held in 2008 to raise funds for English PEN, which promotes understanding through literature, and Dyslexia Action.

--IANS

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