The life of a book collector can be hard. There’s always going to be different editions that bring something new to the table. This is especially true when the book or series is as popular as the Harry Potter series. A series that means a lot to me (it set the trajectory of my career, but that’s a story for a different day), I love the various artist interpretations and scenes each artist chooses to depict. Without further ado, here are my Top Ten favorite editions in my collection.
Note: I’ve decided to order them Book 1 - 7 rather than a ranking system. This is purely because I’m indecisive and it was already difficult enough narrowing it down to 10, so chronological order it is!
1. Harry Potter e la Pietra Filosfale - Italian First Edition Hardback
You probably know this one as the Sorcerer’s or Philosopher’s Stone. I’ll be upfront – I can’t read Italian. I have less than a beginner's knowledge of the language, only about to ask your name, how you are, thank you, you're welcome & ciao. But, it’s a language I’m determined to learn, something that was spurred on by a trip to Florence a year ago to visit my sister who was studying abroad. Before I get there though, I’m aiming to polish my Spanish.
But that’s besides the point. Back to this odd, extremely unique cover choice. It’s one that’s intrigued me and many Potter fans for ages. Why, of all things, is Harry wearing a mouse hat? Who is the (seemingly lifeless) mouse he’s playing chess with? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a bit vague, as given by artist Serena Rigiletti in this interview.
"Harry wears a mouse hat because it is one of the characteristics of my works, I like to put strange hats on the heads of my characters. I do it whenever I get the chance. I myself would like to have crazy hats! And then...in this world it is so difficult to get noticed! After all, if after twenty years one still wonders why, it obviously worked!”
Rigiletti also mentions in the same interview she hadn’t read the book before making the cover art. It’s an interesting choice to say the least, but as one of the strangest (but oddly endearing) Potter covers out there, I knew it was a steal when I found it secondhand on eBay for $7.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - USA Hardback
This entry has less to do with the cover image itself than it does with the fact it’s rare, at least from what I can tell. Back in the fall of 2017, I was a bright-eyed freshman at college. I’d made one, solid close friend (who wound up transferring the next semester sadly) and her birthday fell the weekend after our first week. Unfamiliar with the area, we picked the best place known to us to go celebrate: The Cheesecake Factory attached to the mall.
Have you ever seen a Cheesecake Factory not attached to a mall? I have on two occasions, but it just feels wrong. Because what’s better after overindulging on rich food and delicious dessert? Shopping.
This particular mall, at the time, had a Books-a-million inside it. With 10 minutes to mall closing, we scooted in and took a look at the Harry Potter section. While I was distracted, one of the workers came over and asked my friend if I was into Harry Potter. The answer was obvious. So, this guy pulls out a buried Harry Potter book from the stacks and hands it to me, saying, “I’ve never seen a book without it’s foiling. And, it’s half-off since it’s considered damaged. Want it?”
I spent $8 on that book and to this day, I have no clue how much it’s worth since I’ve never found another copy sans gold foiling on the title & author’s name. But, it’s one of my most prized possessions because it’s unique and allows the entire cover image to shine, which is typically covered by the bold gold foiling.
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Jim Kay Illustrated Hardback USA
It’s an understatement when I say I absolutely love the Jim Kay illustrated editions. Out of the 5 currently available, I have two: La Piedra Filosofal, the Spanish version my mom so kindly gifted me from Portugal (the library is said to be part of the inspiration for Hogwarts while Rowling was teaching nearby) and this Prisoner of Azkaban. I would’ve loved to include La Piedra Filosofal on this list, but at the end of the day, there’s just something about the deep purple of this one that sticks out. Plus, the other one sits on my shelf, supporting my wand collection that I didn’t want to disrupt.
4. Harry Potter e il Prigioniero di Azkaban – 2021 Italian Hardback
Believe it or not, this won’t be the last Italian edition on this list. It was, however, the first Italian copy I purchased from the Florence train station bookshop. I spent the entire trip knowing I wanted one of the Italian Potters, but unsure which one to choose. I’d finally narrowed it down to three options: Prisoner, Goblet & Hallows. Ultimately I chose Prisoner because the scene depicting Sirius staring out at Azkaban, Dementors swooping above was chilling. The darkness mixed with the subtle blend of warm and cool colors captured my attention and I knew I couldn’t leave Italy without it. Sirius is easily one of my top 5 Harry Potter characters, as I think he is with many people, so to have him featured alone on a cover was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was also the smallest of the three and as someone who only had a carry-on, light packing was essential.
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 15th Anniversary Hogwarts Spine USA Paperback
Without a doubt, this is hands down the cover that appeals to me the most when it comes to colors. They’re sharp and all contrast in such a brilliant way, your eye doesn’t know where to focus first. The dragon on the cover is also incredible, and along with Harry’s scarlet red robes, steals the show here. It’s, in my opinion, a much better depiction of a dragon than the set’s later companion, Deathly Hallows, where that one looks…questionable to say the least. That being said, I’d feature this entire box set if I could (maybe one day I will). It’s fun, has backcover scenes to top it off, and there’s something so special about the spines creating an image of Hogwarts.
6. Harry Potter e il Calice di Fuoco – 2021 Italian Hardback
I promise, this is the last Italian edition. Remember how I mentioned before I’d narrowed my decision down to Prisoner, Goblet, and Hallows? Well, I’m fortunate enough to have an incredible bestie who offered to bring me one of the books back from her trip visiting family this past summer. So shoutout to Bella for bringing this stunner to my collection! There isn’t a single thing I don’t like about this edition: the burnt orange, the Quidditch World Cup, the landscape; it all ties together so nicely, I often find myself looking over this copy!
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – UK First Edition Hardback
Unpopular opinion alert: The Order of the Phoenix is my favorite Potter novel, although it does flip flop with Deathly Hallows, depending on my re-read. I’ll never accept the criticism that it’s too long (is there such a thing??) or that Harry is too whiny and angsty (he has a right to be and it’s relatable when you’re reading it growing up!). When I visited the Elephant Cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland – which holds the title of the birthplace of Harry Potter – not only was it perfect in every conceivable way, but there were donated books for sale. Among them was a first edition UK hardback. Growing up, I’d watch book hauls on Youtube where I first stumbled across these original Harry Potter books. They seemed hard, impossible even, to get, particularly in the USA. Order was my first UK first edition hardback, which I’ve since followed up with two others that’ll feature on this list.
But besides being my favorite Potter book and having a bonus sticker that says I bought it from the birthplace of Harry Potter, I love this edition for the golden phoenix on the front. I could (and do) stare at it all day.
8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – UK First Edition Hardback
This book is fun because there’s actually a typo in it. Instead of reading “ten O.W.L.S” on page 99, the misprint is “eleven.” It’s incredibly minor, but it was changed after the first run, which is why I think this one is pretty cool to own.
The image of Dumbledore and Harry is also stunning. I’m not usually one for people on the covers except in certain circumstances, including artwork that only features characters, but I love the way they’re done in these original UK editions. I was also shocked to discover that even when you remove the dust jacket, the image is printed on the book, not just a muted color like most US books.
9. Harry Potter y la Reliquias de la Muerte – Spanish First Edition Hardback
I mentioned earlier my mom was sweet enough to bring me La Piedra de Filosofal as a souvenir. Well, when I had a chance to visit that same library the next year, I decided to pick up another copy. Initially I was going to go with the Chamber of Secrets illustrated to match my set, but I fell in love with this edition. The white background is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and it works so well with the orange and dark colors. The back is also pretty epic as it features the firenze fire, something I haven’t seen done on any other edition. However, I’m not a big fan of the other books in this set, and plan on picking up the paperback copies instead.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – UK First Edition Hardback
Wrapping up this list is none other than the breathtaking UK Deathly Hallows. I know I said I wasn’t picking favorites from this list, but this one is certainly up there. I have it facing out on my shelf because, to me, it’s just that beautiful.
There are a lot of notable scenes in Deathly Hallows. It’s the climatic book of a record-breaking series afterall.
SPOILERS AHEAD
I find it interesting, but not disappointing, that the artist chose the scene where the Golden Trio breaks into Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault to retrieve the Hufflepuff Cup Horcrux. It’s a neat scene, but I’d argue it isn’t nearly as entertaining as, oh I don’t know, say Harry’s final duel with Voldemort. And yet, it absolutely works.
SPOILERS END
Maybe it’s because of the various colors against a black backdrop. Or maybe it has to do with the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are beautifully illustrated, appearing just how I pictured them in my head. Either way, it’s a gorgeous cover, which is why it’s the one rounding out this list of my favorites in my collection.
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