More than 600,000 Deathly Hallows audiobooks in first printing

Listening Library has announced a first printing of 635,000 copies for its unabridged audiobook recording of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The audio release is narrated by Grammy winner Jim Dale, and runs about 21.5 hours. Those 635,000 copies include 565,000 CD editions and 70,000 cassette editions, all of which go on sale 21 July. The suggested retail price is $79.95 for either format, and Amazon.com is already selling them for $49.97.

For comparison, the audio edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which also had a 635,000-copy first printing, sold 165,000 copies in its first weekend of release, making it the fastest-selling audiobook ever.

Dale, who also narrated the first six Harry Potter audio books, will do a reading/performance and lead the countdown to midnight sales at the Barnes & Noble Union Square store in New York City on 20 July. He'll then visit Houston, Texas's Blue Willow Bookstore on 24 July; the Borders in Rockville Center, Maryland on 25 July; Barnes & Noble in Philadelphia on 1 August; and The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County on 3 August.