The Harry Potter cover art is a watercolor illustration of the fictional young wizard Harry Potter in front of the Hogwarts Express train by Thomas Taylor. Photo: Sotheby’s.

The original Harry Potter cover art for Philosopher’s Stone sold for a record $1.92 million, unveiling the captivating story behind its creation and this historic sale.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

NEW YORK, NY-The iconic original cover art for the first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone fetched a staggering $1.92 million at auction on Sotheby’s. This remarkable sale sets a new record for Harry Potter memorabilia, surpassing all previous items related to the beloved series. The illustration, a watercolor painting created by Thomas Taylor, depicts the young wizard Harry Potter embarking on his journey to Hogwarts from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross station.

The story of the illustration began almost three decades ago. In 1996, a year before the novel’s publication, Bloomsbury, the book’s publisher, hired a 23-year-old recent art school graduate from England to design the book jacket. Thomas Taylor, the artist behind this iconic cover, was working at a children’s bookstore when he submitted sample drawings of wizards and dragons to the publisher.  His selection as the cover artist was a dream come true. In his blog, Taylor reminisces about this opportunity, stating, “I was over the moon.”

Harry Potter Cover Art Auction: A Journey

Thomas Taylor’s journey to creating the cover art was both exciting and challenging. He received an incomplete manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and began brainstorming ideas and making drafts. After several iterations, he finalized the design in collaboration with an editor. Taylor created the artwork on a 16×11-inch sheet of watercolor paper, signing and dating it on the back. The final piece, a pencil sketch enhanced with concentrated watercolor and outlined with a black Karisma pencil, took two days to complete. He personally delivered the finished work to Bloomsbury.

Thomas Taylor was initially paid only 500 British pounds (approximately $650) for his work. At the time, neither J.K. Rowling nor Taylor were well-known, making the modest fee seem reasonable. To celebrate, Taylor likely bought new pens and a bottle of Belgian beer. Little did he know that his illustration would become a highly sought-after piece of literary history.

The Creation Process: From Manuscript to Masterpiece

In 2001, as the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was about to be released, Taylor decided to sell the illustration. Fearing that he might accidentally damage it, he sold it for about $100,000 at auction. Reflecting on this decision, Taylor expressed no regret, stating, “I’m just happy that I sold it when I did.”

The original illustration was part of the private collection of Dr. Rodney P. Swantko, an American book collector and surgeon. Sotheby’s in New York auctioned it alongside other rare items from Dr. Swantko’s collection. Before the auction, there were expectations that the artwork would sell for between $400,000 and $600,000. However, an intense bidding drove the final price to an astonishing $1.92 million.

While Taylor’s cover was used for several overseas editions of the novel, it was not featured on the U.S. edition, which was titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and illustrated by a different artist. Despite this, Taylor’s depiction of Harry Potter with his round glasses and lightning bolt scar remains an indelible image in the minds of fans worldwide.

The Harry Potter series has grown into a global phenomenon, with seven books translated into more than 70 languages and a film franchise that ranks among the highest-grossing in history. This spring, Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service, Max, announced a television show based on the series, further cementing Harry Potter’s enduring legacy.

Today, Thomas Taylor is an established author and illustrator, known for his children’s mystery series Eerie-on-Sea. Reflecting on his career, Taylor expresses gratitude for the magical start that Harry Potter provided. “Harry Potter gave me a magical start to my career and I’m very grateful to him for that,” he said.

Harry Potter Cover Art Auction: A Record-Breaking Moment

The sale of the original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone not only highlights the immense cultural impact of J.K. Rowling’s creation but also underscores the value of the artistry that brought the world of Harry Potter to life. This record-breaking auction serves as a testament to the enduring magic of Harry Potter. But more importantly, it highlights the incredible journey of a young artist whose work became an integral part of literary history.