I knew there was a reason why I saved my Best Buy gift card from Christmas. It was so I could save it to use it for the Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection, of course! I remember seeing all the buzz about it when it was first announced, thinking it was AGES away before it was released. After a while, I forgot when it was in stores until I thought to look and, 2 days before it would ship, I decided to use my gift card and put it towards this $300+ set! I was going to post pictures of it earlier, but since it definitely made me swoon and I haven’t been able to stop looking at it, I figured I’d feature it for this week’s SwS!
The (heavy!) box showed up at my office and my BF and I lugged it home. Weighing probably about 15lbs, I was very curious as to how this set would look like. After taking it out of the cardboard shipping box, I carefully peeled the circle labels that sealed the seams of the box only to realize that THAT was just the outer packaging! It was like one of those nesting dolls.. it just kept opening up for more!
This leather(?) box is gorgeous. I just flipped up the hinged lid, with the Hogwarts crest on the underside and just gaped at how pretty it was. After looking around at how the box was to open further, I realized that the front flap was held on with magnets, and that it opened forward. That left the drawers that I could see the handles for and after some more investigating, discovered that the right, then left, sides opened up and pulled outwards too. AND two little push-and-pop-out small drawers. (I know, I could have just looked at the picture – but this was more fun!) Amazing. This is why I called it a contraption on Twitter. It’s a beautifully built, very appropriately Hogwarts-like contraption.
Now.
Onto the inside.
While the first thing I saw were some bright “cheap” yellow CD envelopes that held each of the bonus digital copies, that is the only thing about this set that looked inexpensive. Right below it was “book” 1 of the first movie. Each of the movies (yup, even part 1 and 2) have their own individual beautiful book. Each book contains the Blu-Ray version, the DVD version, the special features and a Creating the World feature – all nested in a velvety tray.
In the smaller pop-out drawer is a tiny scroll containing all the authorization codes for the digital versions of the movies.
The larger pop-out drawer contained a jewelry box housing my very own Horcrux necklace! Very beautifully made, and includes a little note that certifies that it’s from part of “The Noble Collection”.
One of the lower drawers opened up to a booklet with the title “Label Collection” and contains labels that have been accumulated from the Harry Potter films. Everything from the labels on Honeydukes products to Hogwarts potions containers to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. A fantastic and eclectic scrapbook of many details that I might not have noticed before in the movies.
The other item in the drawer was an envelope with some gorgeous sketches by Stuart Craig. Sketches of the Hogwarts castle, Diagon Alley and Hagrid’s Hut are printed on postcard-sized cards and show the immense detail in each of these locations.
Last, but absolutely not least, is the certificate of authenticity, indicating what collector’s set # it is. I love this bit because it makes it official, complete with wax seal and all! So, as much as it was quite a hefty price tag, I couldn’t imagine not getting it. This purchase really was inevitable.. never an “if” but a “when”. 
I am #25,651 out of 63,000 that were made. 
OH MY GOSH. This is gorgeous!!!!! I am so incredibly jealous of you right now
Amy @ Following the Reader recently posted..*My 1 Year Blogoversary and Giveaway*
OMG!! That is freaking amazing!! It looks like it’s more than worth the $300 price tag. That is a beauty!!
Amy @ Book Loving Mom recently posted..Weekly Recap / Stacking the Shelves (21)
What an amazing collection piece-it’s beautiful <3
Lauren recently posted..Stacking the Shelves(11)
Oh my God! This is so beautiful! Truly a treasure for every HP fan. Happy for you that your “when” came
Ivana recently posted..Stacking the Shelves (Sep 15)
So very cool!! Thanks for sharing this! I’m not sure if I could spend the money on it, so I’ll just live vicariously through you.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) recently posted..Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge (6)
OH MY GOD! I want this so bad! This is the coolest thing ever! And I love how it was all packed so tightly with like 3 outer shells of protection! This is truly a HP treasure trove of awesomeness!
Jealous! Jealous!! Jealous!!! OMG I Am So Jealous!!!! All that is missing is a pet Hippogriff!
Scoopriches recently posted..Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: He’s Back!!
This post is made of epicness! I love the unboxing pictures are perfect. I hope there are a ton of special features to make the price tag worth it!
Giselle recently posted..Book Haul: Stacking the Shelves #20
OMG this is so amazing! I want it so bad! *makes grabby hands* Congrats on this amazing purchase!
MaryAnn
Chapter by Chapter
Chapter by Chapter recently posted..Review of Defiance by C.J. Redwine
OMG! Now I see why you wanted to make a post of it’s own. And I now see why you chose the Harry Potter books for your Deserted Island post when you were featured on my blog.
Congrats on such a beautiful Harry Potter Collector item. 
OH MY GOD!!! THAT IS JUST AMAZING!!! And incredibly beautiful! I love it! Hope you are enjoying it!
~ Maida
Literary Love Affair
Maida recently posted..Review: Fury of Fire by Coreene Callahan
Well that settles it. I know what I’m asking for Christmas this year
Christa @ Hooked on Books recently posted..Fangirl Friday: Zombies!!!
Ooh I love it!! It’s definitely so gorgeous. I’m not sure it’s worth the price tag, which is the only reason I don’t own it already.
If I didn’t already have all the movies it would be a must-buy. But I’m glad it’s so gorgeously packaged… they definitely put a lot of thought into how it was put together, which makes it really awesome.
Ashley @ Book Labyrinth recently posted..Your Thoughts on Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Ooooo! Cool, cool, cool!
And such pretty packaging. Looks like I have something to add to my Christmas list. 
Randi M recently posted..Review (Randi): Thirteen Reasons Why I didn’t like this book
Hey, this set looks so wonderful!
I’m really excited to get my collection, but I have to wait until the 19th of October. I don’t know if you have found it already, but you may have missed a secret compartment in the box? When you open the lid under which you find the first films, you can open a further narrow flap where you find more very nice things 
)
And was your bonus disc lying on the first film or was it hidden inside at the back of the box? (ahh, I don’t know how to describe it in English ^^)
Many greeting from Germany
Rina
Rina Tisch recently posted..Was ist nur los mit mir? – Ramponierte NOTD
WHAT!!!! Omg I didn’t open it further!!! My bonus discs were just lying on top of the first film. Omg.. Need to go home and check further!!
WANT….thanks for sharing. I may have to put this on my “to buy” list…so gorgeous.
Tiff @ MostlyYALit recently posted..The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen
You forgot to mention the secret hiding places. Once you’ve pulled everything open in the back of the big opening is a section you can pull out that holds the bonus disc. Also, if you lift up the small panel at the back right below the hinge there is a cloth map of hogwarts, a blueprint, and a book of artefacts.
I definitely didn’t delve into it further! OMG. Thanks!!
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