All About Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Acceptance Letter

17 April 2019
ウィザーディング・ワールド, ミナリマ物語

…And how to get your own!

The magic started in 2001 with a very special prop: Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Acceptance Letter introduced him to the extraordinary world of Hogwarts – and left the rest of us waiting restlessly by our letter boxes.

Harry’s letter is a turning point in the tale, offering the prospect of escape – a gleam of hope flooding into the Dursleys’ dismal sitting room.

Fast forward almost two decades and the envelope has now become iconic; perhaps because it also encapsulates our first discovery of the Wizarding World. 

The letter wasn’t just the start of Harry’s journey: as the first graphic prop ever designed for the series, it symbolises over a decade’s worth of work from original prop creator Miraphora Mina.

How does the design for the letter help tell the story? As the first magical object shown on screen, it must feel significant, a simple yet distinctive design. The unusual green ink give it a quirkiness while the wax seal signifies the authority of an institution. Including ‘The Cupboard Under the Stairs’ in Harry’s address recalls that humour we all know so well from the books. From the moment we see it, contrasted to dreary Muggle letters, we know its contents will be momentous.

Hundreds of copies of the letter were digitally printed on thin paper to allow them to flutter to the ground. However, Mira hand wrote about twenty copies for closeups to ensure it would appear completely authentic. Every detail was considered: smaller, lighter-weight envelopes were specially created for the owls to be able to carry them in their beaks! And, of course, Mira even imagined McGonagall’s signature!

In November we were thrilled to introduce an exclusive bespoke replica at MinaLima: your own letter and envelope, handwritten by Mira either as it appears in the film or personalised with your name and address. Carefully cased in a handbound Japanese silk box, each unique letter is crafted to order and designed to be treasured.

This is an unsurpassable gift for anyone who has followed Harry’s story, and an exceptional addition to any collection.

When did your Wizarding World journey begin? Are you still waiting for your Hogwarts Letter?