Amazon having a 'wizard' time with Potter sales

Online retailer Amazon is once again set for a windfall thanks to teen wizard Harry Potter and the sixth instalment in the world-conquering series of books by J K Rowling which is release at midnight on 15 July.

The e-tail giant is also gearing itself up for the logistical nightmare of ensuring all orders are met and delivered on-time - a plan which has been six months in the making. In terms of the size of the task in hand, the company hasn't seen anything like it since the last Harry Potter book was released in 2003.

The company has been taking orders for the book at more than one per minute since its release date was announced last December. In the UK, Amazon.co.uk has received 350,000 orders for the book.

A spokeswoman for Amazon.co.uk told silicon.com: "The book is released at midnight on Friday and we're working very closely with Royal Mail to ensure all customers who have pre-ordered get their books on the day of release."

According to a spokeswoman for Amazon.co.uk, the company has even received an order which will be despatched to the Vatican City. "Perhaps even the Pope is a Harry Potter fan," said the spokeswoman.