National Library of Scotland Celebrates 20 Years of “Potter”

As the calendar ticks closer to June 26, 2017, and the 20th anniversary of the day the world met Harry Potter for the first time, more and more institutions are getting involved in celebrations. From Ohio and New York City, to Alnwick Castle in England, add the National Library of Scotland!

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the library will host a pop-up exhibition with rare editions of the books.

The centrepiece will be a rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone complete with JK Rowling’s drawings and personal notes, including one that says the book ‘changed my life forever’.

The exhibition will also include a signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince donated by Rowling, as well as 70 translations of the books and various editions that have been released in the past 20 years. To emphasize the impact the series has had on the world, the exhibition will also feature academic texts on Harry and his story, as well as the 1998 Time magazine that featured the series as it was just becoming a phenomenon.

However, this exhibition can only be seen from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time on June 26, at the library’s boardroom on George IV Bridge. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to dress up in their best wizarding wear and cosplay to reminisce on the magic of the original book releases.

If you’re a little far away from Scotland or looking for more anniversary events, don’t forget to check out MuggleNet Live! 2017: Nineteen Years Later, our upcoming special event. It’s a magical night created just for you!

What anniversary events are you most looking forward to? Let us know!