"The Little Prince" is up for auction

A machine-written original manuscript for the children's book classic and bestseller "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is to be sold at auction in Abu Dhabi.

» Published:

"The Little Prince" is up for auction
Photo: Remy de la Mauviniere/AP/TT

Share this article

The manuscript, with the author's handwritten corrections and changes, has a starting price of 1.2 million dollars. The author's French passport is included in the purchase.

Saint-Exupéry's saga has been translated into more than 300 languages and sold over 200 million copies.

Only with the Heart

The manuscript to be sold was purchased earlier this year by an English bookstore specializing in sought-after, rare objects. In addition to the text, it contains drawings by the author and his famous phrase (freely translated): "Only with the heart can one see clearly, the most important is invisible to the eye".

The manuscript is said to be one of three existing, the other two being handwritten. Unlike the other two, one of which is located at the French National Library, this was the one Saint-Exupéry kept and worked with.

One rarely comes across something of this magnitude, says Sammy Jay from the seller Harrington Books.

More than Potter

He compares it to the typed draft of the cult novel "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, which was sold for 2.4 million dollars in 2001.

Saint-Exupéry wrote the book in exile in the USA in 1942. The book was published the following year and has sold more copies than, for example, the first "Harry Potter".

The author, who was a pilot and explorer, left the USA in 1943 to participate in the war against the Nazis on the North African front. He disappeared the following year during a mission over the Mediterranean.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Ellerströms Wins Örnen and Kråkan Poetry Prize

Ellerströms Wins Örnen and Kråkan Poetry Prize

Record Number of Songs Submitted to Melodifestivalen 2026

Record Number of Songs Submitted to Melodifestivalen 2026

Netherlands Joins Eurovision Boycott Threat Over Israel's Participation

Netherlands Joins Eurovision Boycott Threat Over Israel's Participation

SVT's The Game: Swedish Celebrities Face Intense Drama in New Show

SVT's The Game: Swedish Celebrities Face Intense Drama in New Show

Swedish Actor Per Mattsson Passes Away at 77

Swedish Actor Per Mattsson Passes Away at 77

Suede Announces Two Sweden Concerts Next Year

Suede Announces Two Sweden Concerts Next Year

Munich Philharmonic Concert in Belgium Canceled Over Conductor's Views

Munich Philharmonic Concert in Belgium Canceled Over Conductor's Views

TV4 Play Streams Malin Åkerman's Hit Series The Hunting Wives

TV4 Play Streams Malin Åkerman's Hit Series The Hunting Wives

Karin Wiklund and Annica Styrke Win Birgit Cullberg Scholarship

Karin Wiklund and Annica Styrke Win Birgit Cullberg Scholarship

Dexter Returns as a Taxi Driver in New York in New Series

Dexter Returns as a Taxi Driver in New York in New Series

Sweden's Museums See 2% Rise in Summer Visitors

Sweden's Museums See 2% Rise in Summer Visitors

Former Miss Dirt Reveals Her Real Name as Felicia

Former Miss Dirt Reveals Her Real Name as Felicia

Doktor Glas Novel Transformed into Modern Swedish Thriller Film

Doktor Glas Novel Transformed into Modern Swedish Thriller Film

Takida's Robert Pettersson Launches Solo Career with Secret Album

Takida's Robert Pettersson Launches Solo Career with Secret Album

Big Little Lies Season 3 Confirmed with New Writer

Big Little Lies Season 3 Confirmed with New Writer

SD Politician Seeks to Cancel Play About Palestinian Activist in Malmö

SD Politician Seeks to Cancel Play About Palestinian Activist in Malmö

Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation

Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation

Radio Listening Hits Record Low as Podcasts and Streaming Rise

Radio Listening Hits Record Low as Podcasts and Streaming Rise

Bad Bunny Skips USA Tour Over Immigration Raid Concerns

Bad Bunny Skips USA Tour Over Immigration Raid Concerns

Sverker Olofsson Criticizes Celebrity Focus in SVT's "Det sitter i väggarna"

Sverker Olofsson Criticizes Celebrity Focus in SVT's "Det sitter i väggarna"