Cover art

Since the publication of PS undefined in 1997, many publishers have created new editions of each book with new cover art provided by an illustrator.

Bloomsbury and Scholastic are the main companies who have recreated the books. Bloomsbury is the British publication that has created both adult and children's covers. The adult edition usually depicts an object or place that plays a key part in the plot while the children's one features a major event in the book.

Bloomsbury have commissioned many illustrators to design the cover. In 2013, they had woodcut artist Andrew Davidson create new cover art for the paperback adult edition. In  2014, Bloomsbury commissioned  Jonny Duddle  to create new cover artwork for its children's edition.

The original covers by American publisher Scholastic usually depict an amalgam of objects and people from the book against a common backdrop. The art on all original American editions were created by Mary GrandPré. In 2013, Scholastic commissioned Kazu Kibuishi to create new cover artwork for 15th anniversary editions of all of the titles.

The cover art created by either Bloomsbury or Scholastic are re-used on many, but not all, international editions of the books.

Back covers of the original children's edition

 * 1) PS undefined: Quirrel/Albus Dumbledore (later editions)
 * Hogwarts Castle
 * Sirius Black as a dog/Remus Lupin
 * Fat Ghost floating near the stairs.
 * :Fountain of Magical Brethren
 * The Pensieve bathed in green light.
 * The moon above Hogwarts Castle.

Covers
The cover of the children's edition, drawn by Thomas Taylor, depicts Harry Potter staring at the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4. The original Bloomsbury back cover includes a rather bizarre-looking figure (whose face also adorns the spine) who was created by the illustrator. After a few editions, the back cover was changed with a new image, this time clearly identifiable as Dumbledore, even holding a Put-Outer.
 * PS undefined

The original adult edition has the Hogwarts Express. The second adult edition depicts the Philosopher's Stone.

Clare Melinsky's Signature Edition
In March 2010, Bloomsbury unveiled new cover artwork by Clare Melinsky for its Signature Edition. Melinsky's covers were published in paperback, Audio CD, and later in 2011, hardback.


 * 1) PS undefined: Two Wizard's Chess pieces (a Queen and a Knight) in combat.
 * Fawkes, the Basilisk and the Sorting Hat.
 * Dementors along with Harry's stag Patronus.
 * The Dark Mark.
 * A Prophecy Record.
 * Harry and Dumbledore atop a small island, which is near to the cave's location.
 * Godric's Hollow cemetery, with Ignotus Peverell's grave in the forefront.

American
Most art by Mary GrandPré, 15th anniversary art by Kazu Kibuishi, fully illustrated edition art by Jim Kay. The cover shows a Nimbus-riding Harry (in Muggle attire or Hogwarts arches) is about to catch the Golden Snitch, with other Quidditch players in the far distant background. Hogwarts castle appears behind Harry and the arched columns through which he is flying, the bottom of the entire cover shows a soft, red and blue tile floor, which is connected to the columns. The soft floor features a transparent fabric so we can able to see the bottom of the columns, and Fluffy's three vicious heads are visible in an opening in the castle wall. In the distance, the forest's pointed pine trees mirror the pointed towers of the castle, while a unicorn gallops by. The back cover shows a letter-carried owl, Albus Dumbledore, a Bludger, and a key, which is dropped by an owl. The back flap shows an orange curtain with white stars is blown by the owl. The front flap has a mysterious candle-holding figure with no shoes or boots is coming from behind a light-green curtain with light-blue swirls and dots.
 * Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

The alternate paperback edition has Snape running into the woods. The Tenth Anniversary Edition has Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised. The School Market Edition has Harry getting his wand in Ollivanders with Hagrid and Garrick Ollivander. The Fifteenth Anniversary Edition features Harry and Hagrid in Diagon Alley. The Fully Illustrated Edition features Harry with Hedwig preparing to board the Hogwarts Express, another owl flying overhead.

2008 Collector's Edition
The Simplified Chinese editions were published by People's Literature Publishing House, originally using Mary GrandPré's art work, later updating to using Kazu Kibuishi's version, and with the version by Olly Moss available as ebooks. However, in 2008, to celebrate the series being translated and published in China for eight years, the publisher held a competition searching for brand new designs for the Collector's Edition (珍藏版), The publisher also took this opportunity to correct previous translation errors for  and. Artists and designers 李里, 王翔, and 于国志 were selected to collaborate on the cover art and design.

Danish
The Danish translations of the books, published by Gyldendal, have been published with at least three cover designs. The original design had inset illustrations by Per Jørgensen. A second design used the same illustrations as the full cover, along with the familiar Harry Potter logo. A third design, to date used only on the first four volumes, has banners of a single colour across the top half of the cover and symbolic art on the lower half.
 * PS undefined

Dutch
The Dutch translations of the books are published jointly by Uitgeverij De Harmonie in the Netherlands, and Standaard Uitgeverij in Belgium. The cover art was created by Ien van Laanen and the covers were designed by Anne Lammers.

2010 Pocket Edition
In 2010, Dutch pocket editions were created to boost sales in the Netherlands by Uitgeverij De Harmonie. Erik Kriek created new cover designs for the books, as seen below.

Finnish
The Finnish translations of the books, published by Tammi, have cover art created by Mika Launis.

French
The French translations of the books, published by Éditions Gallimard, have cover art created by Jean-Claude Götting. Götting initially painted front covers only for the first three volumes, and full (front and back) cover art for later volumes; the publishers later commissioned him to repaint the first three covers in full. The covers for most books have Harry and friends in Hogwarts uniform - exceptions being Goblet of Fire, where he wears his Triwizard Tournament robes, and Deathly Hallows, where he wears a simple jacket.
 * PS undefined

2011 Folio Junior Edition
The first two Folio Junior Editions, editions specifically for children's literature in pocket format, used the same illustrations by Jean-Claude Götting. In 2011, new cover arts created by Gray318 are used for the third Folio Junior Edition (the second for the French ).

German
The German translations of the books, published by Carlsen Verlag, have cover art created by Sabine Wilharm for the classic Children's Edition.

Adult Edition
Besides the classic editions, Carlsen Verlag also published an Adult Edition (Ausgabe für Erwachsene) in hardcover format throughout 2000 to 2007.

2013 Anniversary Pocket Edition
The regular German paperbacks used the same cover arts by Sabine Wilharm; however, in 2013, Carlsen Verlag published a special pocket edition, the anniversary edition (Jubiläumsausgabe), with brand new cover arts. All Horcruxes are featured on the book spines, respectively Harry Potter's scars, T. M. Riddle's Diary, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, Slytherin's Locket, Nagini, Ravenclaw's Diadem, and Hufflepuff's Cup from book one to seven.

2016 Pottermore Exclusive Audio Book
Pottermore  commissioned Olly Moss to create new cover arts exclusively for the German audio books, of which the content remained the same, performed by Rufus Beck. The covers were revealed on Pottermore on 18 October, 2016, the art of which also has alternative version with the English book titles sold as prints.

2018 20 Years of Magic hardback
Upon celebrating Harry Potter's 20th anniversary, Carlsen Verlag announced a set of new covers illustrated by Iacopo Bruno in June 2018, to be published in hardback in September 2018.

2017 celebration paperback
The Indonesian translations of the books, published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama, used to use Mary GrandPré's art work. Upon celebrating Harry Potter's 20th anniversary, brand new sets of cover art created by Nicholas Filbert were commissioned.

Italian
The Italian translations of the books, published by Adriano Salani Editore, have cover art created by Serena Riglietti.

Portuguese
The European Portuguese translations of the books are published by Editorial Presença, while Brazilian Portuguese translations are published by Editora Rocco. The European Portuguese publications have three different editions using sets of cover arts by Mary GrandPré, Bloomsbury Publishing's first complete adult edition, then Kazu Kibuishi. The regular Brazilian Portuguese editions used Mary GrandPré's art work.

Early European Portuguese editions
Prior to switching to using Mary GrandPré's art work, the first European Portuguese editions of PS undefined and featured unique cover art by Teresa Cruz Pinho.

2012 Brazilian Collector's Edition
While the regular Brazilian editions used Mary GrandPré's art work, in 2012, Editora Rocco released a Collector's Edition (edição de colecionador) in hardback, with brand new covers designed by Mario Alberto.

2008 Black Deluxe Edition
The Russian translations of the books were originally published by Rosman Publishing prior to 2013. During its thirteen years of publication run, most editions used the American cover art by Mary GrandPré; however, in 2008, a hardcover Black Deluxe Edition (Черное подарочное издание) was released, using brand new cover arts illustrated by Andrew Ferez. Much like Bloomsbury's original adult edition, the covers of the Russian Black Deluxe Edition depict a particular object or figure that played significant roles in the book.

Spanish
The Spanish translations of the books are published by Salamandra. The original cover art was created by Dolores Avendaño.

2014 Redesigns
In 2014, Tiago da Silva created new cover designs for the books as seen below.

Swedish
The Swedish translations of the books, published by, have cover art created by Alvaro Tapia.

Ukrainian
The Ukrainian translations of the books, published by Ababahalamaha, have cover art created by Vladislav Erko.

Other books
The original edition's cover was designed to look like Harry Potter's copy of the book, with a sticker featuring his signature, and claw gashes over the cover material. The 2009 edition has a painting of Hogwarts' coat of arms with the animals escaping the frame.

Notes and references
封面艺术