First Edition of El Filibusterismo Sells for ₱21 Million & Sets Historic Record
EL FILIBUSTERISMO – Collectors and historians were left in awe after a signed 1891 copy of El Filibusterismo fetched a record-breaking ₱21 million.
A rare piece of Philippine literary history has just made headlines after fetching an astonishing price at auction. Touted as the
“Most expensive book sold in the country!”
, a first edition of
El Filibusterismo
was sold for ₱21 million.
Leon Gallery proudly announced that the first edition of the novel
“El Filibusterismo”
by Dr. Jose Rizal was sold for ₱21 million, based on the auction held on Saturday, February 14. The sale took place during the Asian Cultural Council Auction 2026 and immediately drew attention from collectors, historians, and literary enthusiasts.
Photo Source: @Sir Claide FB
“The piece is signed and dedicated ‘A mi querido amigo el doctor T. H. Pardo de Tavera, Jose Rizal, Gante, 16/ IX 1891” (To my dear friend, the doctor T. H. Pardo de Tavera, Jose Rizal, Ghent, 16 September 1891), and was sold at the Asian Cultural Council Auction 2026.’”
“Stay tuned for more updates!”
they added.
The mentioned book was first printed in Ghent, Belgium, on September 16, 1891, as indicated in Rizal’s handwritten dedication. Its historical value is further elevated by the personal inscription addressed to Dr. T. H. Pardo de Tavera, a close associate of Rizal.
Photo Source: @Sir Claide FB
El Filibusterismo
is the sequel to
Noli Me Tangere
, a novel said to have been dedicated by the national hero to the three martyred priests known as GomBurZa, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora.
The three were executed by garrote in 1872 after being falsely accused of rebellion. Their martyrdom deeply influenced Rizal’s advocacy for Philippine freedom, which he personally witnessed alongside his brother, Paciano Rizal.
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