Bloomsbury Publishing is excited to reveal the cover of the eagerly anticipated Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay. Scholastic US are using the same cover image and will reveal it simultaneously.

Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, today released the exclusive cover image of the fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling's bestselling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Bloomsbury UK also revealed the image simultaneously. Illustrated by award-winning artist, Jim Kay, the cover is an image of Harry Potter on Platform 9 ¾ surrounded by witches and wizards, trunks and owls, about to board the Hogwarts Express for the first time and is available for download at HarryPotter | Scholastic Media Room.

The illustrated hardcover edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will be published globally on October 6, 2015, and Scholastic plans to publish fully illustrated editions – one per year - of each of the seven titles. Over 450 million of the Harry Potter books have sold worldwide and the series continues to appear on bestseller lists in the U.S.

Illustrated by Jim Kay, Kate Greenaway Medal winner, the front cover image shows Harry Potter beside the majestic Hogwarts Express.

Fiona Noble of the The Bookseller said: “I’m willing to call this the most handsome and desirable gift book of the year. It is stunning...with full colour illustrations throughout from Greenaway Medal winner Kay, who breathes incredible life into these much-loved characters and locations, staying faithful to Rowling’s vision but revitalising the story for a new generation.”

Published globally on 6th October 2015 this will be the first fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s original Harry Potter novel. The hardback edition will include ribbon marker, head and tail bands, illustrated endpapers and colour artwork on every spread. The illustrated edition will be published in more than 21 languages around the world. All will be using Jim Kay’s artwork and joining the UK and the US in bringing this beautiful edition to life. It is set to be the landmark publishing event of 2015.