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In an announcement bound to reverberate around the publishing sector, online retail giant Amazon has announced that sales of eBooks have overtaken that of hardbacks.

Amazon has said that its store based in the United States has sold 143 books for the Kindle, its own e-reader, for each 100 traditional hardback books during the last quarter. The pace at which digital books are outstripping physical books seems to be accelerating also; during the last four weeks, this ratio increased 180 eBooks to 100 hardback books. Five authors sold more than half a million digital copies, including Stephanie Meyer, author of the Twilight vampire novels.

Editor in chief for website the Bookseller, Neil Denny, said that these sales figures are “eye catching”, and added that whilst sales may be ahead of hardbacks, their value is generally thought to be less, with some books retailing for 75p.

The market for eBooks is still relatively small in the United Kingdom, with sales being worth around £150m last year. Consumer sales accounted for £5m, with 80% of total sales belonging in the professional/academic sector.

Amazon launched its Kindle eBook reader in the United Kingdom last October, and for the moment, customers need to visit the US Amazon website to order it. Whilst it was initially well received, it now faces stiff competition from Apple’s iPad. Both devices are portable and have the capacity to store thousands of books; not being able to withstand the treatment usually meted out to paperbacks, gadget insurance is vital should you invest in one.

Amazon reduced the price of the Kindle in June as a response to the iPad’s launch, but has also faced competition from Sony’s Reader.

The Royal Society of Authors’ deputy general secretary, Kate Pool, thinks that most writers would be more than pleased to sell digital books in such large numbers. She said:

"If you speak to most authors, they couldn't bear to get rid of their old bookshelves, but if their readers want to read on an e-reader, then great. They are in it to earn a living after all."