A Czech Harry Potter collector: the Weasley twins are the quickest to send their autographs

Many people around the world have found themselves drawn into the magical world of Harry Potter. From J.K. Rowling’s books to the Warner Brother films, the series continues to inspire both young and old. But it takes real dedication and deep affection for the wizarding world to build a collection of more than 1,000 Harry Potter–related items. Děčín resident Andrea Vendolská has done just that, creating the only collection of its size and significance in Czechia. But rather than keeping it tucked away in a cupboard under the stairs, she decided to share it with the world.

Andrea carefully curated her collection into an exhibition, which has toured across Czechia and is currently on display at Děčín Castle under the title “A Magical Exhibition – Muggles Welcome!” (“muggles” being the Harry Potter term for non-magical people). The Castle provides the perfect setting: it dates back to the 13th century, stands on a rocky cliff above the Elbe River and has a certain magic of its own.

Across the castle courtyard, through a small wooden door and down a narrow staircase, lies the exhibition itself, where Andrea Vendolská offers guided tours. It is a great way to find out about her collection, as even unassuming objects turn out to be rare and unique treasures.

Among them, are original fragments of the film reels, with Andrea owning a unique piece from each of the eight films. She also displays the fragments of two costumes, which were transformed into collectible items, as well as a striking collection of rare silver coins. It is clear that Andrea’s passion lies in authentic memorabilia – the objects that bring her closest to the books and the actual production of the Harry Potter films.

Perhaps some of her most treasured possessions are autographs of the actors, of which she has more than 40. “I actually wrote letters to the actors, asking them to send me a signed photo. And they did!” she says. “Sometimes I waited only three months – the fastest were the Weasley twins – but Luna Lovegood’s signature took almost three years. I also have a signature from Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape. Now that he has passed away, the autograph carries even more weight, but even back then it was incredible that someone like him took the trouble to send it to me by post. It was amazing!”

She also obtained some autographs at events in Czechia, including LexiCon, a festival devoted entirely to Harry Potter. Originally called Potterfest, LexiCon is now the largest Harry Potter–focused festival in Central Europe, attracting up to 2,000 attendees. The event often features Czech and Slovak dubbing actors, with some of the original film cast attending regularly.

Andrea has met the actors who played Gregory Goyle, Katie Bell, and Oliver Wood, and she commented on each– while Goyle and Bell were enthusiastic and very friendly with fans, Wood, she recalls, was noticeably more reserved. She even owns a baseball cap signed by the actor who played Goyle.

“I decided I wanted to create a little Hogwarts of my own.”

Andrea Vendolská

But what really stands out in the exhibition is the care given to every detail. Some of the décor was even made by her friends and family, adding a personal touch that makes the space come to life. Her motivation in sharing the collection is simple: to share her joy with the world.

“When I first went to London in 2014, I thought it was so beautiful, and I realised that there are so many people who will never get to see it. That’s when I decided I wanted to create a little Hogwarts of my own.”

You can listen to the full feature to discover more about how Andrea first began collecting Harry Potter items, where she finds them and more.