New ‘Potter’ first printing 10.8 million

Scholastic Inc. has announced a first printing of 10.8 million copies of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the largest such printing for a hardcover release in this country.

The previous record holder was “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” which came out in 2003 with a first run of 6.8 million.

“Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth of seven planned Potter books, will be released at midnight July 16.