Scholastic and Bloomsbury have unveiled the first four images from the upcoming “fully illustrated edition” of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Update: Amazon has revealed that the first book will contain over 100 illustrations and cost $30!
The illustrated Harry Potter books – which mark the first time the series will be fully visualized for the page – were originally announced in December 2013.
The first four illustrations depict Rubeus Hagrid, Hermion Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Ron Weasley. Take a look:
This page depicting Hermione is particularly interesting because of the door behind her. Look at all of the inscriptions! We spotted “Moody” and “Riddle” amongst all the names.
Click here to see this one full size so you can make out all of the inscriptions for yourself!
The level of detail in the Hermione illustration has us excited about the possibilities that these new books present. May we learn new details about the series through the drawings?
It also makes us wonder: How often did author J.K. Rowling consult with Kay?
Another question: How thick will these books be – the later ones in particular – with the addition of illustrations? The books in text form were already quite large, so we’ll be curious to see how the illustrations are mixed in with the writing.
The publishers also announced some new details about the illustrated Harry Potter books today. The first book, Philosopher’s Stone / Sorcerer’s Stone, will be published October 6, 2015 in the U.S. and U.K. with an “elegant ribbon marker and illustrated endpapers.”
Publishers in other parts of the world (outside of the two aforementioned countries) will be teaming up with Scholastic and Bloomsbury to publish these books around the world, according to a press release.
The two companies are describing the publication of this book as the “landmark publishing event of 2015.”
A new illustrated Harry Potter book will be published every year.