Harry Potter fans are getting a taste of the last instalment of the iconic book series Wednesday with the release of the final title's cover art.

Buzz continues to build as the cover art for the final Harry Potter title was unveiled Wednesday. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released July 21.
(Raincoast Books)

Raincoast Books, the Vancouver-based Canadian publisher of the hit J.K. Rowling series, released its cover images for both the children's and adult edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Wednesday morning.

Illustrator Jason Cockcroft, who also created the cover art for the previous two Harry Potter titles, created the image of Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione for Deathly Hallows.

"Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing — if they can," reads the text on the back cover.

"But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?"

Photographer Michael Wildsmith provided the image of a locket marked with the letter "S" for the adult edition. He is behind the cover photos for all seven of the adult Harry Potter editions.

These covers will be used on all English-language editions of Deathly Hallows worldwide, with the exception of the U.S., which is published with cover art selected by American publisher Scholastic.

As the July 21 publishing date approaches, buzz amongst fans of the boy wizard tale grows. Rowling's upcoming book has topped many bestseller lists for months, thanks to pre-orders from online book retailers.

Hundreds of events planned

Around the globe, a host of celebrations and a massive promotional campaign are being prepared to mark the final chapter in the coming-of-age tale of young Harry and his evil wizard nemesis, Voldemort.

Photographer Michael Wildsmith is behind the covers of the adult editions of the Harry Potter books, which feature different cover art from the main children's editions.
(Raincoast Books)

Especially important will be events surrounding the opening weekend, Raincoast's marketing vice-president Jamie Broadhurst told CBC Arts Online in a recent interview.

"Unlike any other book, the fans of Harry Potter want the book right away, as quickly as possible," he said.

"The last time, in 2005, [there were] something in the order of 300 events and parties on the opening weekend across Canada. This time, we're expecting probably about 400-plus."

Over the past decade, the first six Harry Potter books have sold more than 325 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 60 different languages.

Rowling's magical Harry Potter universe has also spawned everything from devoted fan sites online to video games to academically inclined conventions attended by adults who dissect all aspects of the books.