A rare typescript of the children’s story The Little Prince, one of the most translated books of all time, is expected to sell for $1.25 million (£963,313).
The typescript is a printed copy of the text produced by its author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in New York during his exile from Nazi-occupied France in the 1940s, and is one of three known to exist. One of the typescripts.
This copy contains Saint-Exupery’s handwritten notes and sketches. It will be released at the Abu Dhabi Arts Festival in the United Arab Emirates in November.
“Owning a typescript… is an extremely rare thing,” said Sammy Jay, senior literary specialist at typescript seller Peter Harrington Rare Books.
Saint-Exupéry wrote a French version of The Little Prince for children while in exile in New York during World War II. The book was published in 1943.
He was an experienced pilot and after writing the book he returned to Europe to fly reconnaissance missions for the Free French Air Force fighting Nazi Germany. he disappeared On his last mission, no one knew how or where his plane went down.
This famous novel tells the story of a pilot stranded in the desert who meets a young boy named the Little Prince who is visiting Earth.
Since its publication, “The Little Prince” has sold millions of copies around the world.
Saint-Exupery’s original handwritten manuscript is located in New York. It is understood that there are two other typescripts, one at the Bibliotheque Nationale in France and the other at the Harry Ransom Center in Texas.
Mr Jay told the BBC that Saint-Exupéry gave the two typescripts to friends before his disappearance, but the third “was not inscribed or given to anyone”.
The third had been in a private collection in France for “decades” and was the only copy sold to the public, he said, adding that possession of it was “shocking”.
“It’s very exciting because exploring [for me] There are always more and more amazing things to discover…I don’t know how to beat it,” Mr. Jay said.
Peter Harrington Rare Books has owned the typescript since early 2024 and has been cataloging and researching it and preparing it for sale.
There is evidence of an extinguished cigarette on the cover, and the typescript contains Saint-Exupéry’s handwritten notes, annotations, and edits.
It also contains the first written appearance of what is considered one of the most famous lines in the story: “Only the heart sees rightly; essence is invisible to the eye.”
Mr Jay said the typescript was “more intimate” than the other two and highlighted the notes and “doodles” the author had made on it.
According to Peter Harrington Rare Books, the artifact is accompanied by two sketches of The Little Prince, one of which is a preliminary sketch of the book’s final illustration.
Mr Jay said The Little Prince was part of a “global literary heritage” and one of the most translated books in the world.
He said it was possible that a museum or library outside Europe would purchase the typescript in November, which could signal “recognition of its global status”.
