April 13, 2007 : I just came across this article on PaperSpecs.com “The Rainforest Alliance commended publisher Scholastic Inc. for printing the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series on paper that is Forest Stewardship Council certified. The initial 12 million copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released in July in the U.S. and 65 percent of the 16,700 tons of paper used is FSC certified, the largest purchase of FSC certified paper to be used in a single book printing to date. In addition, all the paper used in the printing will contain at least 30 percent post-consumer waste fiber with much of that verified by FSC standards as well. ‘This is a major milestone for environmental and social responsibility in the publishing industry,’ said Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance.”

I really enjoyed seeing the recently released sneak peaks of the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows cover art! I love the warm & spooky cover art by Mary GrandPré (top right), who illustrated the US versions of the books… and the excitement & glistening appeal of the Bloomsbury printing… the one the rest of the world gets to read! hee hee. I’m a bit put off that the book is marketed so many different ways, but that’s just me. Aside from my little rant… notice that there is an extra set of hands among Harry, Ron & Hermoine? Who has a hand on Harry’s Shoulder, and who is holding the dagger? oooooooh, the suspense!!!

Snippit from Crave Online article…

Scholastic today released both the front and back covers (see below) of the highly anticipated “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” J.K. Rowling’s seventh and final Harry Potter book due in stores on July 21st at 12:01 a.m. Once again, the stunning cover art was created by Mary GrandPré, the acclaimed illustrator of all six previous U.S. editions of the Harry Potter books.

“The front cover of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ features a dramatic sky of oranges and golds. It depicts 17-year-old Harry with arm outstretched, reaching upward. The structures around Harry show evident destruction and in the shadows behind him, we see outlines of other people,” said David Saylor, Scholastic’s Vice President and Creative Director who has designed all seven Harry Potter covers.

“For the first time the cover is a wrap-around. On the back cover spidery hands are outstretched towards Harry. Only when the book is opened does one see a powerful image of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, his glowing red eyes peering out from his hood.”

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc also today released the cover images for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which will appear on editions distributed in Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other countries throughout the world.