A rare typescript of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, complete with the author’s handwritten edits and described as a “literary treasure,” is poised for sale at an impressive price of $1.25 million.
Having recently emerged from private ownership, this manuscript will be available at the Abu Dhabi Art fair from November 20-24.
One of the most translated works outside of religious texts, The Little Prince—the timeless tale of a young boy’s journey through various planets and life lessons—was first published in 1943, during World War II.
Encased in a worn black cover, this original French-language typescript of Le Petit Prince was penned in New York while Saint-Exupéry lived in exile from Nazi-occupied France. Shortly afterward, he joined the Free French Air Force to aid in the fight against occupation. Of the three known surviving copies, the other two reside at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the Harry Ransom Center in Texas.
The manuscript contains the earliest known instance of one of the novella’s most iconic lines: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; the essential is invisible to the eye.”
“Rare book collectors value manuscripts that reveal an author’s creative process, especially for works as significant as The Little Prince,” explains Sammy Jay, Senior Literature Specialist at Peter Harrington Rare Books, the firm managing the sale. “This typescript is, without a doubt, the most extraordinary example I’ve ever encountered.”
Reflecting on the typescript’s significance, Jay, a rare book dealer and collector with over a decade of experience, adds, “It’s a career highlight, and there’s a bit of nostalgia knowing it might be unmatched in my career.”
