Two days before the official opening of the Harry Potter: A History exhibit at The British Library in London, the venue released specific highlighted artifacts, both from J.K. Rowling and other authors, surrounding the Wizarding world.

Rowling visited the tour this past Monday, and even gave a bit of a teaser of the headstone of Nicolas Flamel (who will be featured in Fantastic Beasts 2, and died shortly after the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone):

Guess what this is? I've just seen it and was mesmerised... pic.twitter.com/ZSWjpUGH8E

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2017

It is indeed Nicolas Flamel's headstone, viewable at @britishlibrary's Harry Potter exhibition! Just had a sneak preview & it's wonderful. https://t.co/evHNpnlKub

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2017

• Harry Potter: A History of Magic runs from 20 October 2017 – 28 February 2018, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
• The exhibition will combine centuries-old British Library treasures, including the oldest items in our collection, the Chinese Oracle bones, with original material from Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury and J.K. Rowling’s own archives, going on display for the first time.
• The exhibition includes stunning loans from national and international institutions – including broomsticks, wands and crystal balls.
• A 400-year-old celestial globe, enhanced with augmented reality technology, in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, enabling visitors to explore the constellations in the night sky.
• The British Library will also be simultaneously launching a regional roll-out of Harry Potter: A History of Magic on 20 October, with specially designed panels inspired by the London exhibition going on display in 20 public libraries across the UK, highlighting each library’s local connections to magic and folklore

Harry Potter: A History of Magic will unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic from across the world, which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories.

Based on the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including Potions, Herbology, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures and Defence Against the Dark Arts, this exhibition will also showcase material from J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury’s own collections, going on display for the very first time.

Exhibition highlights include:

• Annotated sketch of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry by J.K. Rowling, complete with the giant squid that lives in the lake
• J.K. Rowling’s handwritten list of the teachers and subjects at Hogwarts
• Original artwork by Jim Kay for the illustrated Harry Potter editions, including paintings and sketches of Harry Potter, the Hogwarts Express, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid
• The Ripley Scroll – a 6 metre-long alchemical manuscript that describes how to make the Philosopher’s Stone, from the 1500s
• Chinese Oracle bones – the oldest datable items in the British Library’s collection, one of which records a lunar eclipse that is precisely datable to 27 December 1192 BC
• Celestial globe dating from 1693, made by Vincent Coronelli and brought to life using augmented reality technology, in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, which enables visitors to spin the globe virtually and explore in detail the ancient constellations, some of which share their names with familiar characters from the Harry Potter stories, such as Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Bellatrix LeStrange and Draco Malfoy
• An early written record of ‘abracadabra’, used as a charm to cure malaria
• An Arabic illuminated manuscript showing male and female mandrakes
• The tombstone of Nicolas Flamel, a real historical figure who also features in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
• Black moon crystal ball, used by ‘Smelly Nelly’, a Paignton witch from the 20th century who had a taste for strong perfume
• A mermaid, allegedly caught in Japan in the 18th century

Ahead of opening, Harry Potter: A History of Magic has already sold over 30,000 tickets - the highest amount of advance tickets ever sold for a British Library exhibition. Tickets are available to buy from the British Library website.

Julian Harrison, lead curator of Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the British Library, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome visitors and Harry Potter fans alike to Harry Potter: A History of Magic. We’ve loved discovering the magical traditions that lie behind the Harry Potter books, and we’ve encountered so many amazing artefacts along the way.

“The exhibition takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the history of magic – from mermaids to crystal balls, from broomsticks to garden gnomes! It’s been enormous fun choosing the exhibits.”

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, said of the exhibition:

“The British Library has done an incredible job. Encountering objects for real that have in some shape or form figured in my books has been quite wonderful and to have several of my own items in the exhibition is a reminder of twenty amazing years since Harry was first published.”

This exhibition contains the British Library’s first foray into the world of augmented reality, in partnership with Google Arts & Culture.

Amit Sood, Director of Google Arts & Culture said:

“We're excited to collaborate with the British Library on Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Being able to combine two important cultural treasures – the Harry Potter series with the Celestial Globe in the British Library – demonstrates how technology can help us experience art and culture in new and interesting ways."

SnitchSeeker will be attending a sneak preview of Harry Potter: A History on Thursday, and will be bringing highlights across our social media platforms, so keep an eye there!