Amazon employees handle the
novel with gloved hands

Amazon has paid $4 million at a Sotheby's auction for a handwritten, illustrated book by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, reports Reuters.

A collection of five stories, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was mentioned in the last Potter book as having been left to Harry's friend Hermione by Albus Dumbledore, one of the wizard's teachers.

Only seven copies of the book exist. Bound in Moroccan leather, Amazon posted several pictures of the book and plans to add reviews of all five tales.

Recently, Amazon joined a small group of manufacturers seeking trying to change how people read books. It launched its ebook reader, Kindle, last month, and has since sold out for the holiday season.

There is no word on whether the handwritten JK Rowling stories will be incorporated as digital copies.