About the Book The official companion book to the special exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic, featuring an extraordinary treasure trove of magical artifacts, original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling, and additional material exclusive to the U.S. run at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library. Full color. Book Synopsis The official companion book to the special exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic, featuring an extraordinary treasure trove of magical artifacts, original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling, and additional material exclusive to the US run of this unforgettable exhibition! As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone in the US, readers everywhere are invited to explore the extraordinary subjects of the Hogwarts curriculum - Potions & Alchemy, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and more - and examine incredible historical artifacts, items from J.K. Rowlings personal archive, and stunning original artwork from Harry Potter series artists Mary GrandPr, Jim Kay, and Brian Selznick. Published in conjunction with the special exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic (coming to the New-York Historical Society after a record-breaking sold-out run at the British Library), this complete catalogue of the over 150 artifacts on display gives readers an up-close look at magical treasures from all over the world. Exclusive to the New York run are amazing artifacts from American institutions -- including an original Audubon illustration, a narwhals tusk (or is it a unicorns horn?), an ancient Iranian astrolabe, and more -- as well as never-before-seen original artwork by Mary GrandPr and early correspondence between J.K. Rowling and her American editor, Arthur Levine. This special publication is an essential volume for Harry Potter fans, history buffs, and bibliophiles, and a fascinating exploration of the history of the magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. About The Author The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the worlds greatest research libraries. The Librarys collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million separate items representing every age of written civilization and includes books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, photographs, newspapers, and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages. Among the greatest treasures in the Librarys collection are two copies of the Magna Carta from 1215; the Lindisfarne Gospels; Leonardo da Vincis notebook; the first edition of the Times (London) from 18 March 1788; manuscripts of the Beatles lyrics; and the recording of Nelson Mandelas speech given at his trial.