A renowned London bookstore is offering an original typescript of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's beloved children's tale 'The Little Prince,' complete with the author's handwritten corrections and revisions.
The well-worn book, along with Saint-Exupery's passport issued by the French Ministry of Culture, will be auctioned at the Abu Dhabi Art 2024 fair, which commences on November 20, with a projected price tag of at least $1.25 million. This unique piece was acquired earlier this year by the esteemed rare books dealer Peter Harrington for an undisclosed amount. The typescript is enriched with numerous illustrations by the author, including his renowned quote, 'One only sees clearly with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.'
Sammy Jay, from Peter Harrington Rare Books, highlighted that this typescript is one of only three known versions, with one held by the National Library of France (BNF). 'Unlike the other two, which were gifted to individuals, this one was Saint-Exupery's personal working copy, making it exceptionally special,' Jay explained. The version up for sale includes passages that were later edited out, adding to its rarity in the high-end rare books market.
'You don't often come across something of this caliber,' Jay noted, referencing the scroll typescript of Jack Kerouac's novel 'On The Road,' which fetched $2.4 million in 2001. 'The market for rare and ancient books is distinct in that you don't typically see sales in the millions,' he added. 'The Little Prince' continues to be one of the world's best-selling books, having outsold the combined sales of the first 'Harry Potter' and 'The Hobbit,' according to Jay. The typescript has garnered significant interest and is expected to be acquired by a museum or private collection, potentially in Asia or the Arab world.
Saint-Exupery penned his story of an extraterrestrial prince and his interplanetary journeys while in exile in the United States in 1942, following his escape from Nazi-occupied France. He departed for the North African front in 1943 to fight, and the book was published in the United States that same year. Sadly, Saint-Exupery disappeared during a flight mission over the Mediterranean in July 1944, never witnessing the global acclaim his book would achieve.
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