Harry Potter: A History of Magic
The British Library is excited to announce a new exhibition about the magic of Harry Potter, set to open in autumn 2017, marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Journey to where magic and myth began.
Have you ever wanted to delve into Divination, ponder the peculiarities of Potions and discover enchanting creatures? Now you can.
We unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. Marvel at original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and illustrator Jim Kay, both on display for the first time.
See the gargantuan 16th-century Ripley Scroll that explains how to create a Philosopher’s Stone. Gaze at Sirius in the night sky as imagined by medieval astronomers. Encounter hand-coloured pictures of dragons, unicorns and a phoenix rising from the flames.
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone with this extraordinary new addition to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.
In partnership with Bloomsbury
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Explore more with featured article Harry Potter: A brief history of magic written by ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic’ lead Curator Julian Harrison.