Original ‘Harry Potter’ cover art to go under hammer in NY

11 Sept 23:32 Key points summarised by AI

The original watercolor illustration for the first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone" is slated for auction at Sotheby’s in New York.
Created by Thomas Taylor at age 23 in 1997, the iconic artwork featuring young Harry Potter is expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000.
Taylor was one of the first to read J.K. Rowling's manuscript, visualizing the wizarding world before it became a global phenomenon, selling over 500 million books and spawning a massive franchise.
This illustration previously sold for 85,750 pounds in 2001 and is now part of a collection from the late surgeon Rodney Swantko, alongside works by other literary legends.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.