Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TORONTO, Jul 14, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- The best kept-secret in the publishing world isn't much of a secret, with nearly two dozen copies of the latest "Harry Potter" book in readers' hands.
The most recent count has 25 copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in circulation -- including 20 in Canada, two in Britain, two in Indiana and one in upstate New York, the Globe and Mail reported Thursday.
Whether by accidental sales or theft, the incidents have sent publishers running to court to clamp down on any plot leaks prior to the 12:01 a.m. Saturday release of the blockbuster-to-be.
So far, 10 books have been recovered in Canada and the owner of the book accidentally sold at a New York drug store has promised to return it.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
