New York: Heritage Auctions auctions Paul Gauguin's Polynesian-French vocabulary

On Sept. 5, Heritage Auctions in New York will auction off the Polynesian-French dictionary that Paul Gauguin wrote in his own hand during his first stay in Tahiti.

The recently found document consists of four pages containing 246 vocabulary words essential for communicating with the island’s people. Among the vocabulary present are words such as “Ani” (request), “Ta ahu” (dress), “Taimaa” (shoe) and “Afai” (wear). The notebook also has about 20 words marked by erasures. Guaguin first arrived in Tahiti in the year 1891.

The auction of the find starts at a base of $4,000.

Pictured: a page from the vocabulary.

New York: Heritage Auctions auctions Paul Gauguin's Polynesian-French vocabulary

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