They grow up so fast. One day they’re repelling deadly attacks by dark wizards, the next they’re riding in their little boats to start their first year of school, and before you know it they’re all grown up. It’s a magical journey, one that should be celebrated, which is why Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will get special Hogwarts House-themed covers for its 20th anniversary.
Pottermore announced that Bloomsbury will commemorate two decades of J.K. Rowling‘s wizarding world with original designs by illustrator Levi Pinfold for the book that started it all in the UK on June 26th, 1997. (It wasn’t officially released in America with its new name, The Sorcerer’s Stone, until September 1st, 1998.)
The covers will come in both hardcover, featuring black jackets, and paperback, in the color of the house, and each will have “a specially designed crest uniquely representing” Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. They covers all tell “a different story, with the artist using traditional heraldry from historic coat of arms imagery to delve deep into each house.” (Have to admit House Slytherin is our favorite.)
You can read a synopsis for the meaning behind the design for each house at Pottermore, and if you want to pre-order your copy now you can do so now at Bloomsbury. They are even throwing a special contest for UK residents that do so by May 31st.
So yeah, twenty years. Can you believe it? And even more amazing, soon enough that will be how many copies of the first Harry Potter book we have.
Which cover do you most want to have apparate into your library? Let us know in the comments below.
Images: Bloomsbury
