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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released in the United Kingdom exactly 20 years ago today, which is sort of scary. Didn't I just read Harry Potter for the first time, soundtracked, probably, by the Spice Girls' magnificent Spiceworld album, or someone's Tamagotchi announcing its death with a chirp? The speed with which the Earth turns is unsettling, indeed, and to celebrate Harry Potter's milestone, the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem has dug up some even older books—they're releasing a digital archive of literature dating as far back as the 15th century that focuses on some of the creatures, plants, and other magical entities featured in the series. If you've ever wondered what a real merperson looks like, now's your chance.

The collection, dubbed "How to Pass Your O.W.L.s at Hogwarts: A Prep Course," is meticulously put together by library curator and Harry Potter superfan Anne Garner, and sources from a few of the 160-year-old historical library's extensive collection of medical texts. 

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