diff --git a/example/demo_auto_ptr.cpp b/example/demo_auto_ptr.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0cca0af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/demo_auto_ptr.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+/////////1/////////2/////////3/////////4/////////5/////////6/////////7/////////8
+// demo_auto_ptr.cpp
+
+// (C) Copyright 2002-4 Robert Ramey - http://www.rrsd.com . 
+// Use, modification and distribution is subject to the Boost Software
+// License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
+// http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+
+#include <list>
+#include <memory>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <cstdio> // remove, std::autoptr inteface wrong in dinkumware
+#include <boost/config.hpp>
+#if defined(BOOST_NO_STDC_NAMESPACE)
+namespace std{ 
+    using ::remove;
+}
+#endif
+
+#include <boost/archive/tmpdir.hpp>
+#include <boost/archive/text_oarchive.hpp>
+#include <boost/archive/text_iarchive.hpp>
+
+#include <boost/serialization/split_free.hpp>
+
+namespace boost { 
+namespace serialization {
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// implement serialization for auto_ptr< T >
+// note: this must be added to the boost namespace in order to
+// be called by the library
+template<class Archive, class T>
+inline void save(
+    Archive & ar,
+    const std::auto_ptr< T > &t,
+    const unsigned int file_version
+){
+    // only the raw pointer has to be saved
+    // the ref count is rebuilt automatically on load
+    const T * const tx = t.get();
+    ar << tx;
+}
+
+template<class Archive, class T>
+inline void load(
+    Archive & ar,
+    std::auto_ptr< T > &t,
+    const unsigned int file_version
+){
+    T *pTarget;
+    ar >> pTarget;
+    // note that the reset automagically maintains the reference count
+    #if BOOST_WORKAROUND(BOOST_DINKUMWARE_STDLIB, == 1)
+        t.release();
+        t = std::auto_ptr< T >(pTarget);
+    #else
+        t.reset(pTarget);
+    #endif
+}
+
+// split non-intrusive serialization function member into separate
+// non intrusive save/load member functions
+template<class Archive, class T>
+inline void serialize(
+    Archive & ar,
+    std::auto_ptr< T > &t,
+    const unsigned int file_version
+){
+    boost::serialization::split_free(ar, t, file_version);
+}
+
+} // namespace serialization
+} // namespace boost
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// test auto_ptr serialization
+class A
+{
+private:
+    friend class boost::serialization::access;
+    int x;
+    template<class Archive>
+    void serialize(Archive &ar, const unsigned int /* file_version */){
+        ar & x;
+    }
+public:
+    A(){}    // default constructor
+    ~A(){}   // default destructor
+};
+
+void save(const std::auto_ptr<A> & spa, const char *filename)
+{
+    std::ofstream ofs(filename);
+    boost::archive::text_oarchive oa(ofs);
+    oa << spa;
+}
+
+void load(std::auto_ptr<A> & spa, const char *filename)
+{
+    // open the archive
+    std::ifstream ifs(filename);
+    boost::archive::text_iarchive ia(ifs);
+
+    // restore the schedule from the archive
+    ia >> spa;
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    std::string filename = boost::archive::tmpdir();
+    filename += "/testfile";
+
+    // create  a new auto pointer to ta new object of type A
+    std::auto_ptr<A> spa(new A);
+    // serialize it
+    save(spa, filename.c_str());
+    // reset the auto pointer to NULL
+    // thereby destroying the object of type A
+    // note that the reset automagically maintains the reference count
+    #if BOOST_WORKAROUND(BOOST_DINKUMWARE_STDLIB, == 1)
+        spa.release();
+    #else
+        spa.reset();
+    #endif
+    // restore state to one equivalent to the original
+    // creating a new type A object
+    load(spa, filename.c_str());
+    // obj of type A gets destroyed
+    // as auto_ptr goes out of scope
+    std::remove(filename.c_str());
+    return 0;
+}