Potter books wrapped in secrecy

2003-06-17 21:46

Thinus Ferreira

Cape Town - The security and secrecy surrounding the fifth JK Rowling book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is tighter than that of the safe in the Gringott bank.

The South African consignment of the book, which will be released just after midnight on Saturday morning, arrived in five 20-ton crates.

Large green stickers with the word "embargo" printed on them are the only give-away to the secret contents of the crates, which are tightly wrapped in black plastic.

As in all other countries where the book will be released on Saturday, not even staff of Jonathan Ball Publishers may open the crates.

Johathan Ball Publishers will be distributing the book in South Africa.

Scholastic Corp in America will print 8.5 million copies of the book, while the rest of the world's issues will be printed by Bloomsbury in England. However, Bloomsbury is refusing to say how many millions of copies it will print.

Jonathan Ball Publishers expect an even bigger frenzy among local buyers than when the previous book hit the shelves three years ago.

Keri Blackmore of Jonathan Ball Publishers confirmed on Tuesday that the consignment of books had arrived at their warehouse in Johannesburg.

She did not want do disclose how many books had been ordered.

"Everyone who touches the crates - from the courier service to bookshop staff - must sign a strict confidentiality clause not to open the crates," she said.

Several security guards had to be appointed and officials were hired to guard the crates at bookshops.

The books, which weigh about 1kg each, are apparently packaged in stacks of six inside the crates.

"The security and secrecy surrounding the books are unbelievable. It will definitely be the biggest book phenomenon ever witnessed in the world," Blackmore said.

She said that some of the crates have already been sent to certain distribution points.

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