Rare Harry Potter Books to be Auctioned by Jay Leno

Sovereign Bank to keep them safe in bank vault until event.

The National Braille Press announced today that it has stored a valuable set of original Harry Potter books signed by author J.K. Rowling in a vault at Sovereign Bank in Boston. Rowling has personally donated the series that includes her distinctive signature on each copy, the only such series available in the U.S. Rowling recently donated a signed set in the U.K. to benefit a local charity, which auctioned them off for almost $40,000. On October 26, Rowling is being honored by the National Braille Press and her priceless books will be auctioned off to benefit the non profit organization that produces the Harry Potter books in braille.

Interested buyers may also bid online prior to the event at http://www.braille.cmarket.com/, and then bidding will continue live at the fundraising gala "Hands On! Books for Blind Children - A Million Laughs for Literacy" hosted by the Tonight Show's Jay Leno. It will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston.

Event Co-chair Joe Campanelli, President and CEO of Sovereign Bank, offered to keep the books under lock and key in the bank vault until the event. National Braille Press President Bill Raeder handed off the books to Campanelli for safekeeping today.

"Sovereign Bank will keep these valuable Harry Potter books safely stored in our bank vault. We are also proud to return as a sponsor of this wonderful event which raises funds for such a vital organization that provides blind children with books in braille," said Campanelli.

Campanelli will be joined by event chairs Tom Sullivan, Chairman and Founder, Lumber Liquidators, Jim Roosevelt, President and CEO, Tufts Health Plan and Jonathan Kraft, President and COO, The Kraft Group.

"J.K. Rowling's work has so advanced literacy for blind children! We are grateful for her personal gift of these autographed books and thank Joe Campanelli and Sovereign Bank for protecting them," said Bill Raeder.

In addition to the Harry Potter books, the event's live auction will also feature a visit to the Tonight Show, a trip to the 2008 Super Bowl, tickets and other VIP treatment from the Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and New England Revolution. Plus, Jay Leno personally secured the donation of a Cadillac CTS that will be presented to the lucky winner of a limited raffle.

More information on the event at http://www.nbp.org/.

National Braille Press, based in Boston, helps blind children and adults achieve self-sufficiency and independence by publishing practical information in braille and by advocating for literacy-because the ability to read and write, in braille or print, is the single most important gateway to opportunity.

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