Harry Potter Cover Art Sets Auction Record with $2.6 Million Sale

The original illustration for the first edition of J.K. Rowling's 1997 novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" has been sold at a record-breaking price. According to reports, the artwork fetched between $1.9 million (as reported by Sotheby's) and C$2.6 million (reported by another source), exceeding its expected value of up to $600,000 or C$820,600. The watercolor cover art was created by author and illustrator Thomas Taylor. Notably, the buyer's identity remains undisclosed.