MUMBAI: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has cast a spell on muggles all across the world and has created publishing history worldwide on the first day of its release.

In India too, Harry Potter cast its charm like never before. The eagerly anticipated seventh and final book in the series, which was released nationwide by 6.30 am on 21 July, 2007 has sold an estimated 170,000 copies in the first 12 hours breaking the record set by its predecessor Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (which sold around 100,000 copies on the day of release).

Amidst tight and most thorough security arrangements ever that saw simultaneous delivery into over 300 locations, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went on sale in every city in India by 6.30 am on Saturday. Many bookstores opened early, some overnight, to meet the huge demand for the first copies, and eager Potter fans, young and old, thronged bookshops from well before the on-sale time.

Crossword Kemps Corner, Mumbai reported a waiting queue of over 700 fans in the first half hour of sale and the Chennai and Bangalore outlets of Landmark reported similar numbers. The Landmark stores in Chennai had over 500 people, queuing up from midnight in their eagerness to get their hands on the last adventure. Many other retailers across the country also reported similar muggle mania.

First Day sales: Penguin India, the distributors for the book in India, saw advance orders climbing from 230,000 to 252,000 on the night before the release (in comparison, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the record holder till now, had registered a total order for around 160,000 copies). The release of the book witnessed an unprecedented rush by readers to pick up copies and read the long-awaited series finale.

On its very first day of sale in India, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has clocked an unbelievable 170,000 copies in sales, within the first 12 hours, breaking all previous records.

Penguin Books India CEO and president Thomas Abraham said, “This is absolutely amazing. Never before have bookstores recorded such sales. It’s been a hectic lead up to release with complex logistics and spoiler leaks in the US, but in the end, we’re delighted that it’s readers who have won and the magic of Harry Potter is being enjoyed the way it should be.”

Crossword marketing head Aniyan Nair said, “We’re absolutely amazed and delighted with the response. There were serpentine queues of eager readers outside all our stores throughout the country! Our stores all over have reported fabulous sales on day one.”

Landmark CEO Hemu Subramaniam added, “In all my experience in book retailing, never have I seen a phenomenon like this, and I’m not sure we’ll see one in a long time to come.”

Pottermania grips the nation and the world over like never before!