BOOKS by Oxford author Philip Pullman are to be sold in an online auction expected to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for children with Aids.

He is collaborating with charity publisher Oak Tree Fine Press, based at Fifield, near Abingdon, to publish a new book entitled À Outrance, which will feature an extract from the His Dark Materials trilogy, as well as a new ‘afterword’ by the author.

He said: “Oak Tree produce these beautiful books that are really extracts from books by famous authors. All the profits go to children with HIV/Aids in Africa.”

The extract tells how the rightful bear-king Iorek Byrnison regained his throne through a fight to the death with the false usurper Iofur Raknison.

Only 265 copies have been made, illustrated by woodcut artists. Some of the volumes have been printed by hand letter press on handmade paper. They are all signed and some editions inscribed by Mr Pullman.

Three designer bookbinders have also been commissioned to produce 15 unique copies, which will be displayed in the Bodleian Library from December 15 to 18.

Oak Tree Fine Press was set up by South African businessman Bruce Howard to help care for children made vulnerable by HIV and Aids. It has brought out limited editions of works by, among others, Doris Lessing, Salman Rushdie, A.S. Byatt, Gunter Grass and Thomas Keneally.

An online auction starts at oaktreefinepress.com on Tuesday, December 1.