PARIS (AP) – An original manuscript for the Marquis de Sade’s “The 120 Days of Sodom” has been withdrawn from a Paris auction after the French government declared it a “national treasure” and banned its export.
Auction house Aguttes said Tuesday the French culture ministry has granted the most valuable lots in the auction the rare treasure classification and proposed buying them.
Following the ministry’s decision, a court receiver allowed Aguttes to withdraw the top lots from Wednesday’s auction and to negotiate their eventual sales directly with the government.
The original manuscript of “The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage,” by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
In addition to the Sade’s 1785 explicit text, the withdrawn lots include the 1924 manuscript for the first “Surrealist Manifesto” by French writer Andre Breton. The lots had a combined value estimated in the multimillion-dollar range.
De Sade is known for his libertine writings on sex.
The original manuscript of “The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage,” by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
FILE – This Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 file photo shows the original manuscript of “The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage,” a scandalous and pornographic novel written by French writer Marquis de Sade while jailed in the Bastille prison, displayed prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of Paris, France. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE – This Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 file photo shows the original manuscript of “The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage,” a scandalous and pornographic novel written by French writer Marquis de Sade while jailed in the Bastille prison, displayed prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of Paris, France. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
The original manuscript of “The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage,” by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of “The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage,” by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of “Manifeste du Surrealisme,” by French writer Andre Breton is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Original manuscripts by French writer Andre Breton are on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Top lots in an auction of rare manuscripts to be held this week in Paris have been withdrawn from the sale after the French state prohibited them from leaving the national territory and showed interest in buying them. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
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