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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Potter Spell Smashes Records in First-Day Sales

8.3M copies fly off shelves in 24 hours

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(Newser) – The internet leaks don't seem to have weakened any of the boy wizard's magic:  "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" sold a record-breaking 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours on sale Saturday. The 7th and final installment in the series bested the 6th, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” which sold 6.9 million copies in 24 hours two years ago.

The "hysteria that came over the entire country this weekend was a bit like the Beatles' first visit to the US," said an executive at Scholastic, the book's publisher in the US.  Twelve million copies of "Deathly Hallows" were printed, bringing the number of Potter books published in the US to a whopping 133.5 million.

Nathan Blain, left, and Jen Eckles, both of Tempe, Ariz., dressed as their favorite characters, eagerly wait in line for
Nathan Blain, left, and Jen Eckles, both of Tempe, Ariz., dressed as their favorite characters, eagerly wait in line for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling's seventh and final Harry...   (Associated Press)
Erin Hutchinson, left, and Mary Beth Hutchinson, both of Mesa, Ariz., check out their new copies of
Erin Hutchinson, left, and Mary Beth Hutchinson, both of Mesa, Ariz., check out their new copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" book by J.K. Rowling, the seventh and final Harry Potter book,...   (Associated Press)
Pakistani women buy the copies of J.K. Rowling's latest and last novel
Pakistani women buy the copies of J.K. Rowling's latest and last novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" on the day of its release in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, July 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Anjum...   (Associated Press)
A handout photo issued by Bloomsbury of JK Rowling reading at moonlight launch of her book
A handout photo issued by Bloomsbury of JK Rowling reading at moonlight launch of her book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at The Natural History Museum in London, Friday, July 20, 2007. The world...   (Associated Press)
Russian fans react as they get copies of J.K. Rowling's new book
Russian fans react as they get copies of J.K. Rowling's new book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", at a bookstore in Moscow, Saturday, July 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)   (Associated Press)
Harry Potter fans in costumes pose in front of the display during the first day of selling of the
Harry Potter fans in costumes pose in front of the display during the first day of selling of the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" book Saturday, July 21, 2007 in suburban Taguig City south of Manila....   (Associated Press)
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