Philosopher's Stone back covers: explanation from HBP?

[Tim Regan]

Hi All,

Like many of us I've gone back after reading Deathly Hallows to start again,
at book one. A colleague at work has been doing the same and one of the
first things that struck us was that the back cover of our UK Harry Potter
and the Philosopher's Stone were different! Lorna's was clearly a picture of
Dumbledore, sticking pretty closely to the description in that first book.
Here's the picture in the Leaky Gallery: 
 - mine 
     http://gallery.the-leaky-cauldron.org/picture/124773 
     http://tinyurl.com/36p8ee 
 - Lorna's
     http://gallery.the-leaky-cauldron.org/picture/1220 
     http://tinyurl.com/298k2t 
The obvious question is who is the magician on the reverse of my copy? The
HP Lexicon has an answer:

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/ps/rg-ps00.html
http://tinyurl.com/38otu8 

>>> The original Bloomsbury cover by Thomas Taylor includes a rather
bizarre-looking figure on the back. The man in the picture really doesn't
match any character in the book, although fans have speculated that it is
supposed to represent either Dumbledore or Quirrell. After a few editions,
the back cover was changed with a new image, this time clearly identifiable
as Dumbledore, even holding a Put-Outer:  <<<

But there's an interesting thread on Leaky's forum started by "Pheonix-Fire"
(http://www.leakylounge.com/index.php?showtopic=27821
http://tinyurl.com/2rnn6l ) that has a wonderful explanation:

>>> Now, reading "Half Blood Prince" (Spoiler warnings ahead people), I was
reading chapter 13, "The Secret Riddle", when Harry enters the pensive with
Dumbledore. Here we are given s description of Dumbledore again, as a
younger man:
"This younger Albus Dumbledore's long hair and beard were auburn. Having
reached the side of the pavement, drawing many curious glances due to the
flamboyantly cut suit of plum velvet that he was wearing."

To me, this seems like the description of the image that I have on my copy
of "The Philosopher's Stone". but if it is, why would this be. An image of
Dumbledore that would not appear until 5 books later puzzles me. Of course I
may be just guessing randomly, the image may not be Dumbledore at all, but
it stills seems pretty odd to me. And if it isn't Dumbledore, then who is
it? <<<

And Thestral_1508 speculates:
>>> Maybe the 'Secret Riddle' chapter in book six was originally intended to
be in book one but at the last minute, Jo or the editors didn't think it
fitted with the book and therefore removed it, but obviously, the back cover
art wasn't changed. It must have been really last minute though.....I could
imagine the chapter being maybe the first chapter in book one, but it
probably would have given too much away. <<<

Intriguing huh?

Cheers,

Dumbledad.


		
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