This story highlights the rarity of the typescript, its historical significance, and the excitement surrounding its sale.
**Rare Typescript of 'The Little Prince' Expected to Fetch $1.25 Million at Auction**
**Rare Typescript of 'The Little Prince' Expected to Fetch $1.25 Million at Auction**
A unique copy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved children's book, complete with handwritten notes, will be sold at the Abu Dhabi Art Festival.
A rare typescript of the cherished children's tale, "The Little Prince," is poised to be auctioned for a staggering $1.25 million (£963,313) at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Art Festival in November. Authored by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry during his exile from Nazi-occupied France in the 1940s, this typed manuscript is one of only three known copies still in existence.
The manuscript carries the personal touch of the author with handwritten notes, sketches, and annotations, making it a prized piece for collectors and literature enthusiasts alike. Sammy Jay, a senior literature specialist from Peter Harrington Rare Books, which is selling the typescript, emphasized the rarity of the item, stating that it represents a significant event in the literary world.
Originally published in French as "Le Petit Prince" in 1943, the story follows a pilot stranded in a desert who encounters a young boy, the Little Prince, visiting Earth. Saint-Exupéry, who was an accomplished aviator, ultimately disappeared during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French air force, the fate of his aircraft remaining a mystery.
This particular typescript has an intriguing history; unlike the other two known copies, which were gifted by Saint-Exupéry to friends prior to his disappearance, this one has remained in a private collection in France for decades. Jay noted that this third typescript was "not inscribed or given to someone," making it the only one available for public sale.
Since Peter Harrington Rare Books acquired the typescript at the beginning of 2024, they have been diligently cataloging and conducting extensive research on it. Noteworthy aspects include signs of its age, such as evidence of stubbed-out cigarettes on the cover and the author’s meticulous handwritten notes and revisions throughout the text. One significant piece of content in this typescript is believed to contain the first written version of one of the book’s most famous quotes: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; the essential is invisible to the eye."
The typescript, with two accompanying sketches of the Little Prince, is considered "much more intimate" than the other typescripts currently held in institutional collections. The anticipation surrounding the upcoming auction suggests that there is a possibility it may be acquired by a museum or library outside of Europe, which would underscore the book's global literary significance. As Jay remarked, "The quest for me is always to find something more and more amazing... This finds itself at the pinnacle."
