"Little Prince" discovery offers new insight into classic children's book

A manuscript draft for classic children's book "The Little Prince," by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery is presented by auction house Art Curial in Paris, May 3, 2012.

/ AP

(CBS/AP) The only known draft pages of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's classic children's book "The Little Prince" are on display at a Paris auction house, ahead of their sale this month.

The two fragile handwritten sheets, brimming with original musings and even a new character, were discovered two months ago in France in private hands.

They were either omitted or modified in the published version, but the previously unknown texts may shed valuable new light on the book's real meaning.

The author, who wrote from New York during World War II, was known to be a pacifist. But Saint-Exupery expert Olivier Devers says the new material indicates it actually was "a book against war."

The draft pages, which go to auction on May 16, are estimated to fetch $52,000 - $65,000.