Harry Potter cover art fetches a record price at auction in New York

Expelliarmus to all previous records! An original watercolor illustration for the cover of Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone, the first book in J.K. Rowling's international hit series, has become the most expensive piece of Potter paraphernalia ever sold at auction.

The illustration, which featured on the debut edition of the 1997 novel, was sold for $1.9 million by Sotheby's New York after a four-way bidding battle that lasted almost 10 minutes.

The artist, Thomas Taylor, was only 23 years old when he painted the iconic image of Harry Potter on Platform 9¾, awaiting his first ride on the Hogwarts Express.