British Library to mark Harry Potter's 20th birthday with exhibition

The British Library announced Monday that it will hold a new exhibition about the magic of Harry Potter in autumn 2017, marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

From medieval descriptions of dragons and griffins, to the origins of the philosopher's stone, the exhibition will take readers on a journey to the heart of the Harry Potter stories, said the library in a statement.

The exhibition will showcase an extraordinary range of wizarding books, manuscripts and objects, and combine centuries-old British Library treasures with original material from Bloomsbury's and J.K. Rowling's archives.

"We at the British Library are thrilled to be working with J.K. Rowling and with Bloomsbury to mark the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, and to inspire fans with the magic of our own British Library collections,” said Jamie Andrews, head of Culture and Learning at the British Library.

Rebecca McNally, publishing director and editor-in-chief of Bloomsbury Children's Books, spoke of her excitement for the new event.

"The British Library is a magical place for book lovers," Rebecca said. "They are the perfect partners for a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition exploring a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon, a thrilling celebration of magic and imagination with Harry Potter at its heart."

The exhibition will open on Oct 20, 2017, and run until Feb 28, 2018.