The latest Harry Potter adventure has become the fastest-selling book in history after smashing first day sales records worldwide.
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', the seventh instalment in J.K.
Rowling's magical adventure series, surpassed expectations with 15 million copies being sold since its release on Saturday (21.07.07).
Borders Group reported global sales of 1.2 million copies on the first day of the book's release, the biggest ever first day sale figures for the bookseller chain.
In comparison, the company sold just 850,000 copies of the sixth book, 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', on its first day in 2005.
British supermaket chain Asda said 450,000 books were sold between midnight and 4pm on Saturday.
A spokesman said: "We're selling them at twice the speed of previous issues."
US publisher Scholastic Corp. also reported staggering sales with 8.3 million copies flying off the shelves, smashing the previous record set by the sixth volume at 6.9 million.
Online retailer Amazon.com received a record 2.2 million advance orders worldwide.
Author Rowling is believed to have made an astonishing £54 million in royalties from the first day sales of the book alone.
Meanwhile, Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe is finally set to get his hands on his £23 million fortune today (23.07.07) as he celebrates his 18th birthday.
The actor - who has played the boy wizard in all five movies - will get access to a trust set up by his parents to safeguard his millions. | 
