SORCERER’S STONE – 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION COVER: HARRY AT THE MIRROR OF ERISED

Preliminary Cover Artwork for the 10th Anniversary Edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2007)
Mary GrandPré (American, b. 1954)
Pencil on parchment tracing paper
Signed lower right: Mary GrandPré
Dated lower right: 2007
23 cm x 16 cm
£20,000 (excl. VAT)

This original preliminary pencil sketch was created by Mary GrandPré in 2007 as an early study for the 10th anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The artwork was intended for the upper dust jacket wrapper and depicts one of the most emotionally resonant moments in the entire series—Harry’s first encounter with the Mirror of Erised.

After sneaking out at night under the protection of his invisibility cloak, Harry stumbles into an abandoned classroom and discovers the mirror. Peering into its surface, he sees—perhaps for the first time in his life—the family he never knew: his mother, father, and relatives standing around him, one man notably with knobbly knees, just like his own. The mirror, as Dumbledore later explains, reveals “nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.”

This artwork delicately captures the poignancy and wonder of that moment, balancing the magic of discovery with the ache of longing. The sketch is an evocative rendering of both the scene and the spirit of the early Harry Potter novels.

Provenance & Condition
In excellent condition, the work shows minor wear and light creasing consistent with the artist’s creative process. It has been professionally preserved and archivally mounted on museum-quality board with protective mats and cover.

Note
This piece stands as a moving tribute to the emotional core of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and represents a key moment in GrandPré’s visual reimagining of the series for its landmark anniversary edition.

Catalogue Ref: Houston & GrandPré B(3)