Thursday, August 26, 2021

La Poste France Antoine de Saint Exupery

LA POSTE FRANCE in 2000 issued a first day cover stamp honouring Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of "The Little Prince (La Petit Prince)".

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote and illustrated "The Little Prince" in 1943 while an exile living on Long Island (USA). He was a well-known French aviator who drew much of the book's content from his experiences in North Africa, WWII and his personal life. Various chapters and characters were deleted in the final draft. The book went from 33,000 words and several drafts till it was finally distilled to a little less than 70 pages.

Although the book is considered a simple children’s tale, it is filled with profound riddles that speak to adults as well as children. The novella has been translated into over 180 different languages and is one of the best selling books of all time.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry died in 1944 while flying a Lockheed P-38 Lightening on a reconnaissance mission over the Mediterranean. Hence the image featured in this cachet.

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