Peter Harrington, a renowned London bookstore, is offering an original typescript of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's timeless work, "Le Petit Prince," complete with the author's handwritten corrections and illustrations. This rare manuscript, which includes passages later omitted, will be auctioned at the Abu Dhabi Art Festival in the United Arab Emirates next month, alongside Saint-Exupéry's French Ministry of Culture-issued passport. The anticipated sale price is set at a minimum of $1.25 million (€1.15 million).
The typed manuscript was created in New York by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry during his exile from Nazi-occupied France in the 1940s. It is believed to contain the first written instance of the iconic lines: “On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux” (“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye”).
Sammy Jay, from Peter Harrington Rare Books, noted that this is one of only three known versions of the transcript; the other two are housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas. Jay emphasized that this particular copy was kept by Saint-Exupéry himself and served as his personal working draft, making it exceptionally unique.
Jay also highlighted that items of this caliber are rarely available, citing the example of the scroll typescript for Jack Kerouac's novel "On The Road," which sold for $2.4 million in 2001. He further explained that the market for rare and ancient books differs significantly from other markets, as high-value sales are infrequent.
"Le Petit Prince" was first published in the US in 1943 in both French and English, and later in France in 1946. It stands as the most translated book in the world, excluding religious texts. Sadly, Saint-Exupéry disappeared during a flight mission over the Mediterranean in July 1944, never witnessing the global acclaim of his masterpiece.
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