Most Valuable Lot in History: Original Watercolour Illustration for First Edition of "Harry Potter" Sold for $1.9 Million

The original watercolour drawing by artist Thomas Taylor for the first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling has become the most valuable Harry Potter-related item ever sold. It was sold for $1.9 million at an auction in the US, BBC reports.

The drawing was expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000, which, according to Sotheby's, was the highest pre-sale estimate for a Harry Potter-related work.

Overall, the illustration sold for three times the expected price. On Wednesday, it took almost 10 minutes for the four-way bidding to end. The identity of the buyer is not disclosed.

It was first auctioned in 2001, before the book series was completed, for £85,750 (about $108,000 at current exchange rates).

"This is truly the first visualisation of Harry and the wizarding world," said Kalika Sands of Sotheby's.

Illustration artist Thomas Taylor was 23 years old in 1997 when he created the iconic image of Harry Potter standing in front of the Hogwarts Express. This image led the young wizard with glasses into the world of magic.

Taylor, who grew up in Wales, was one of the first to read the manuscript of the original Harry Potter book, which went on to sell millions of copies and spawn a lucrative franchise including films and theme parks.