Neil Pearson Rare Books, an agency specialized in antique rare literary items, announced the acquisition of all the personal archive of the late actor [Alan Rickman], who played Severus Snape in Harry Potter series. With at least 30 boxes, the collection contains scripts from almost every movie and plays the actor was in.
His work in Harry Potter is the highlight of the collection. Besides all the scripts from the series with many handwritten notes, there’s a letter from the producer [David Heyman], dated from July, 2000, who sent the script of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and offered him the role of Snape. There are also several letters from the author [J.K. Rowling] discussing the character’s development.
Letter from David Heyman offering the role of Severus Snape to Alan Rickman
Some details show the actor’s dissatisfaction with the production of the movies. On a letter from 2002, Heyman thanks the actor for making The Chamber of Secrets a success. “I know you sometimes gets frustrated, but know that you are a great part of the movies. You are brilliant”, wrote the producer. Years later, Rickman would write a note about his character during Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: “It’s like [the director] David Yates decided that this is not important. In other words: appeal to the teenagers…”
The buyer will also receive the actor’s personal diaries, since 1992, and his schedule notebooks, since 1972. The diaries are described as the source of “smart, sharp and often hilarious critics of movies and plays, as well as remains of shootings, rehearsals, meetings and dinners with friends and charity functions”. It is also part of the archive letters from all moments of Rickman’s career, including correspondence with Rowling, [Daniel Radcliffe] (Harry Potter), Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley), Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney), Prince Charles etc.
Scripts from the Harry Potter series
The starting bid for the personal archives of Alan Rickman is 950 thousand pounds (approximately 1.25 million dollars). For more details about the collection, access the site for Neil Pearson Rare Books.
News by Rodrigo Cavalheiro
Translated by Anna Viduani
Revised by Caroline Dorigon
