Rare Typescript of ‘Le Petit Prince’ Available for Sale at $1.25 Million

Rare Typescript of “Le Petit Prince” Up for Sale

In an exciting development for bibliophiles and fans of classic literature, the renowned London bookstore Peter Harrington is offering an original typescript of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved masterpiece, Le Petit Prince. This extraordinary document comes with the author’s own hand-written corrections and whimsical drawings, making it a unique piece of literary history.

The typescript, which features passages that were ultimately edited out of the final publication, is set to be showcased at the Abu Dhabi Art Festival in the United Arab Emirates next month. Alongside this rare literary artifact, Saint-Exupéry’s passport issued by the French Ministry of Culture will also be available for sale. The starting price for this remarkable collection is estimated to be at least $1.25 million (€1.15 million).

This typed version of the text was crafted in New York during the 1940s, a period when Saint-Exupéry was in exile from Nazi-occupied France. Notably, it includes what is believed to be the first written appearance of the famous lines: “On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux”, which translates to “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

A Unique Literary Treasure

A Unique Literary Treasure

According to Sammy Jay from Peter Harrington Rare Books, this typescript is one of only three known versions; one resides in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (the National Library of France), and the other is housed in the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas. Jay elaborated, “Unlike the other two copies that were given to individuals, Saint-Exupéry kept this one for himself, making it his personal working copy of the typescript. This aspect elevates its significance.”

He further noted, “You don’t usually encounter something of this caliber in the market.” To illustrate the rarity of such items, he referenced the famous scroll typescript of Jack Kerouac’s novel On The Road, which was sold for a staggering $2.4 million in 2001. Jay remarked, “The market for rare and ancient books is distinct; it’s uncommon to see sales in the millions.”

Le Petit Prince was first published in the United States in 1943 in both French and English, with its French edition subsequently released in 1946. Remarkably, it is second only to religious texts as the most translated book in the world. Tragically, Saint-Exupéry disappeared during a reconnaissance mission over the Mediterranean Sea in July 1944 and never lived to witness the phenomenal success of his timeless work.

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