AA / Ankara / Mervé Berker
An original watercolor illustration created for the first edition of JK Rowling’s magical saga, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, fetched a record $1.9 million at an auction organized by the house Sotheby’s auction in New York on Wednesday, becoming the most valuable Harry Potter item ever sold.
The artwork from the first book in the series was expected to sell for up to $600,000, which Sotheby’s said was “the highest pre-sale estimate ever placed on a piece of Harry Potter-related artwork.” But the auction went for more than three times that amount.
The cover made by Thomas Taylor, who was an early reader of the manuscript, was first sold at auction in July 2001 at Sotheby’s London for £85,750. The iconic image shows the budding wizard, with his dark hair, round glasses and lightning bolt scar, in front of the Hogwarts Express train.
“This is really the first illustration of Harry and the wizarding world,” Kalika Sands of Sotheby’s auction house said of the illustration.
The work’s intricate details and vibrant colors, which gave Rowling’s text a visual identity, now evoke a sense of nostalgia in countless fans around the world.
The Harry Potter saga, a set of seven volumes published between 1997 and 2007, is rich in themes such as friendship, loyalty, courage, intelligence, love, perseverance, sacrifice, justice and self-acceptance.
The bonds between Harry, Hermione and Ron illustrate true friendship and unwavering loyalty, while characters such as Dumbledore embody intelligence and wisdom.
The series also highlights the power of love, the importance of standing up for what is right, and the wonders of the magical universe, creating an immersive and enduring story that imparts valuable life lessons.
Aside from the books, the Harry Potter film series brought the magical world to life with exceptional performances from actors such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who, playing iconic characters, captivated audiences around the world.
* Translated from English by Mounir Bennour.
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