The original watercolor illustration for the cover of Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone has shattered all previous records, selling for a staggering $1.9 million at Sotheby's New York. Painted by artist Thomas Taylor when he was just 23 years old, the iconic image of Harry Potter on Platform 9¾ captivated bidders in a tense four-way battle that lasted nearly 10 minutes. Completed in just two days using concentrated watercolors and black pencil, the illustration surpassed all expectations by fetching almost four times the estimated price. Previously, a first edition copy of the book held the record for expensive Potter memorabilia with a sale price of $421,000. Sotheby's called it the "highest pre-sale estimate ever placed on any Harry Potter-related work," solidifying the enduring popularity and impact of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world.