'Harry' sets pre-release record

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Online retailer Amazon.com said Monday pre-orders for the seventh and final installment of the Harry Potter series set for release on July 21 have hit an all-time record high in the U.S. and worldwide.

The retailer said pre-orders for J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in the U.S. climbed above 1 million copies, surpassing the pre-order record held by the sixth book in the epic series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Worldwide, orders for the seventh series have reached 1.6 million.

Amazon.com said pre-orders for the final Harry Potter series reaches a record high weeks before its July 21 release date.

Amazon (Charts, Fortune 500) said orders placed by July 17, at 12 p.m. ET in the U.S. will be delivered on the book's release date at no extra charge. Customers who pre-order the book will also receive a $5 promotional certificate.

The company estimates it has already saved customers more than $23 million on purchases of the book.