Harry Potter Stamps

There is no doubt that JK Rowling’s creation of the Harry Potter books has changed the reading habits of both the young and old worldwide. On July 17, 2007, Great Britain released a series of stamps that showed recognition to the author and fans alike.

The stamps of the bespectacled hero, Harry Potter were a huge hit even before hitting the post office shelves. It is estimated that about 340,000 people pre-ordered the stamps. This sets a new record that beats out the 300,000 pre-orders set of Beatles stamps that were previously released by the Royal Mail.The stamps were on sale for one month in Britain and available online for one year. The last day to buy these stamps online is July 17, 2008.

There are seven First Class stamps in the series. Each stamp features the sleeve artwork from the Bloomsbury editions of each of the seven Harry Potter books. The titles are: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and, of course, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.

There are also five stamps that feature the crests of the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its houses that were released (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin). Fans who order online can personalize the stamps by placing their picture alongside the crest of their favorite house.