A copy of The Lord of the Rings signed by film-maker Peter Jackson and featuring an original sketch by the film’s art advisor Alan Lee has raised more than $3000 for Volunteer Service Abroad.
The book was sold via the Internet auction site Ebay. The auction attracted 5599 visitors during its 7-day duration with a total of 42 bids from around the world.
VSA fundraiser Jo Prestwood says the final bid of $US1325 was a fantastic result for VSA. “It’s a magic result, inspired by a magic film, and the money raised will support VSA’s ongoing work in the Pacific, Asia and Africa.”
“We would like to say thankyou to Peter Jackson and Alan Lee for taking time out of their hectic schedules to support VSA, and to the Internet sites Scoop and theonering for spreading the word among the world’s many Tolkien fans.”
VSA is a not-for-profit international development agency that has been placing New Zealand volunteers in developing countries since 1962. At present it has more than 80 volunteers working in the South Pacific, Asia and Africa.