First-edition copy of Anne Frank’s ‘The Secret Annex’ auctioned for €3,100

A first-edition copy of The Secret Annex, the published diary of Anne Frank, was sold at auction on Sunday for 3,100 euros, according to Kunstveiling.nl. The book, first published in June 1947, remains one of the most significant historical accounts of World War II.

The auctioned copy is a hardcover edition from the first printing and retains its original cover. However, signs of wear are visible due to age. “The book has some damage to the cover and age-related stains on the pages,” the auction listing states.

According to Kunstveiling.nl, the book was acquired by its current owner through “a friend of Jewish descent who went into hiding in Alkmaar during the war.” The auctioned copy contains 253 pages.

The first print run of The Secret Annex consisted of 3,036 copies. Since then, numerous editions have been published in multiple languages, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide.

Anne Frank wrote her diary between June 14, 1942, and August 1, 1944, while she and her family hid in a concealed annex on Prince’s Canal in Amsterdam. In 1944, they were discovered and arrested. Anne later died at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.