The original front and back cover artwork for the second Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, to be auctioned next week, is expected to realise more than £40,000 sterling (€64,300).
Meanwhile, an auction of film memorabilia on December 12th includes collectibles from James Bond, Walt Disney and Braveheart.
Three Harry Potter lots highlight Christie's bi-annual original book illustrations auction in London next Thursday.
Given the record-breaking box office receipts at the recently released film of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the auction could hardly be more timely.
The artwork for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is being auctioned in three lots. The original design for the front cover illustration (lot 247) is estimated at £20,000 to £30,000.
A watercolour, it depicts Harry Potter, his owl Hedwig and best friend Ron Weasley flying through the skies in Mr Weasley's commandeered magical Ford Anglia, the boys having missed the Hogwarts Express. They wanted to arrive on time for the start of term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Lot 248 is the final study of the Ford Anglia and is estimated at £12,000 to £18,000. This illustration was used in the final cover design, with the landscape details of lot 247.
The original design for the back cover illustration (lot 249), depicting Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is expected to go for £4,000 to £6,000. Showing Hogwarts' turrets and towers, it is the first visual representation of that magical seat of academia.
Mr Hayden Pyle, book illustration specialist at Christie's, told The Irish Times that lot 248, depicting Harry, Ron and Hedwig in the car, was superimposed over the top of lot 247 to make the final image.
"Both were actually used to make the final image that we see on the book. Lot 249 for the back cover was reversed and slightly cropped as well," he said.
Mr Cliff Wright, who illustrated the book said: "When I began to work on these illustrations in 1997, I had no idea how Harry Potter would grip the world's imagination."
He found it unbelievable to see his creative work spread around the world. "I have played my own small part in bringing the Harry Potter universe to visual life, which has given me great satisfaction."
Meanwhile, an auction of film memorabilia on December 12th features items from the Marx Brothers to James Bond, ranging in estimates from £200 to £15,000. It includes a rare 1932 drawing by Walt Disney of Mickey Mouse, expected to make £5,000 to £7,000.
Signed and inscribed "Pour Fabiano, Walt Disney", it was given to Fabiano, a French writer and designer whom Disney met and befriended at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The auction features an impressive selection of original production backgrounds created by Walt Disney studios, such as from The Jungle Book (1967) featuring Mowgli and Baloo playing in the jungle, estimated at £7,500 to £9,500.
A background from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), with the witch showing Snow White the poisoned apple, is expected to fetch £5,000 to £7,000.
In the James Bond section, a three-piece wool suit worn by Bond (played by Irish actor Pierce Brosnan) is expected to fetch £2,000 to £3,000 and a pair of Church's black leather brogues is estimated at £1,500 to £2,000.
One of Bond's gadgets in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), an Omega stainless steel diver's automatic calendar wristwatch - used by 007 at the film's climax to detonate a bomb - is expected to fetch £10,000 to £15,000.
A prop sword made for Mel Gibson as William Wallace in Braveheart (1995), in which Trim Castle featured prominently, is estimated at £7,000 to £9,000.
A USS Enterprise Starfleet Command uniform from Star Trek is expected to make £2,000 to £3,000.
jmarms@irish-times.ie
