MAKATI, Philippines — A rare first edition of José Rizal’s seminal novel El Filibusterismo, personally signed by the national hero, has made history as the most expensive book ever sold in the Philippines, fetching ₱21 million at auction.
The landmark sale took place on February 14 during the Asian Cultural Council Auction 2026 at Leon Gallery in Makati. Including the buyer’s premium and taxes, the total transaction reportedly reached about ₱25.3 million, surpassing the previous Philippine record held by a signed Noli Me Tangere copy sold last year.
What makes this copy particularly rare and historically significant is Rizal’s own handwritten dedication: “A mi querido amigo el doctor T. H. Pardo de Tavera, José Rizal, Gante, 16/IX/1891” (“To my dear friend, Dr. T. H. Pardo de Tavera…”), dated September 16, 1891. The inscription links the book to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, a noted physician, historian, and scholar who was a close confidant of Rizal.
Leon Gallery described the copy as “probably the last signed and dedicated copy in private hands,” noting that other early editions exist in institutional collections but lack the personal inscription that elevates this one’s rarity and value.
El Filibusterismo — the darker, more revolutionary sequel to Noli Me Tangere — was originally published in Ghent, Belgium, in 1891. Fewer copies were printed compared with its predecessor, and many were seized, confiscated, or destroyed by Spanish colonial authorities upon distribution due to its subversive critique of colonial rule.
Rizal’s novels are cornerstones of Philippine literature and history, credited with inspiring Filipino nationalist sentiment and playing a crucial role in the movement toward independence from Spanish colonial rule. The sale highlights not only the enduring cultural importance of Rizal’s work but also the growing market for rare historical artifacts among collectors.
The public exhibition of the book was open for preview at Leon Gallery prior to the auction, drawing interest from historians, bibliophiles, and cultural enthusiasts.
