An extraordinary typescript of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's cherished tale, The Little Prince, is poised to enter the auction market with a staggering price tag of $1.25 million (£963,313). Crafted during the 1940s in New York while Saint-Exupéry was in exile from Nazi-occupied France, this rare document is one of only three copies known to exist. The typescript features the author's handwritten notes and illustrations, hinting at the creative process behind the beloved children's story.
Rare Typescript of The Little Prince Up for Grabs at $1.25M
Rare Typescript of The Little Prince Up for Grabs at $1.25M
A unique typed version of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic, The Little Prince, is hitting the auction block for $1.25 million.
Scheduled for sale at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Art Festival in the UAE, the typescript, according to Sammy Jay from Peter Harrington Rare Books, is a remarkable find and an "extremely rare event." Originally penned in French as "Le Petit Prince," the story was published in 1943 and has since become one of the most translated and cherished children's literature works globally.
This singular manuscript stands apart from others known to exist, including one held by France's national library and another in the Harry Ransom Center in Texas, both of which were given to friends by Saint-Exupéry prior to his mysterious disappearance during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force. Unlike its counterparts, this particular typescript remained in a private collection in France for decades and is the only one publicly available for sale.
Since its creation, The Little Prince has captivated readers and sold millions of copies worldwide. The current typescript showcases signs of its storied past, featuring Saint-Exupéry's personal annotations, edits, and even remnants of cigarette butts. Notably, scholars believe it contains the earliest written variation of one of the narrative's key lines: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; the essential is invisible to the eye."
Mr. Jay emphasized that this typescript is "much more intimate" than the other two copies in existence, containing personal doodles and notes made by the author during the writing process. The accompanying sketches of the Little Prince add another layer of significance to the document, with one being a preliminary drawing for the final illustration of the book.
With such a culturally significant item hitting the market, the auction could attract interest from museums and libraries beyond Europe, reflecting the global legacy of The Little Prince and Saint-Exupéry's literary contributions.
This singular manuscript stands apart from others known to exist, including one held by France's national library and another in the Harry Ransom Center in Texas, both of which were given to friends by Saint-Exupéry prior to his mysterious disappearance during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force. Unlike its counterparts, this particular typescript remained in a private collection in France for decades and is the only one publicly available for sale.
Since its creation, The Little Prince has captivated readers and sold millions of copies worldwide. The current typescript showcases signs of its storied past, featuring Saint-Exupéry's personal annotations, edits, and even remnants of cigarette butts. Notably, scholars believe it contains the earliest written variation of one of the narrative's key lines: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; the essential is invisible to the eye."
Mr. Jay emphasized that this typescript is "much more intimate" than the other two copies in existence, containing personal doodles and notes made by the author during the writing process. The accompanying sketches of the Little Prince add another layer of significance to the document, with one being a preliminary drawing for the final illustration of the book.
With such a culturally significant item hitting the market, the auction could attract interest from museums and libraries beyond Europe, reflecting the global legacy of The Little Prince and Saint-Exupéry's literary contributions.
