ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – FULL WRAPAROUND DUST JACKET STUDY

Preliminary Full-Cover Design for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2002)
Mary GrandPré (American, b. 1954)
Pencil on parchment tracing paper
Signed lower right: Mary GrandPré
Dated lower left: 2002, annotated: Book 5
27 cm x 69 cm
£35,000 (excl. VAT)

This original full wraparound pencil sketch by Mary GrandPré was created in 2002 as the preliminary design for the dust jacket of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It is the only surviving study produced ahead of the development of the final colour artwork and offers an exceptional view into the artist’s process for shaping the narrative arc of the cover.

The upper wrapper features Harry inside the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic, caught within the disorienting chamber of rotating doors—a haunting, symbolic setting that reflects the psychological and emotional turbulence of this fifth instalment. In keeping with GrandPré’s distinctive visual approach, the composition extends seamlessly across the entire dust jacket, creating a unified scene that evolves as the book is turned in the reader’s hands.

The front and rear flaps frame the scene with theatrical elegance, a technique GrandPré often employs to hint at deeper thematic content while maintaining the visual coherence of the jacket. The sketch captures the intended atmosphere and narrative energy of the final published version while offering a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into its earliest iteration.

Provenance & Condition
The artwork is in excellent condition, with light handling wear and faint creasing consistent with the artist’s working process. It has been professionally preserved and archivally mounted on museum-quality board with protective mats and cover.

Note
This preliminary artwork represents a vital moment in Mary GrandPré’s visual storytelling for the Harry Potter series. It not only foreshadows the aesthetic direction of the final cover but also captures the shadowy complexity and emotional intensity that define Order of the Phoenix—a turning point in the saga both visually and thematically.

Catalogue Ref: Houston & GrandPré B(5)