Noa Noa: Voyage to Tahiti Hardcover - 1961

New York: Reynal and Company, 1961 Book. Fine. Hardcover. First English Edition. 4to. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 36 pp + 47 pages of illustrations on rectoof each page in color and b&w by Paul Gauguin. Translated from the original manuscript by Jonathan Griffin, with a Postscript by Jean Loize: First English Edition, 1961. "The manuscript was reproduced in facsimile in 1954 by Sagot-Le Garrec in Paris, and the first Egnlish translation of it is printed here. This 'Genuine version of Noa Noa by Gauguin unaided' is an important document -- a painter putting down in words an experience that drew from him great paintings. It is also a beautiful piece of writing: amusing, acid, wide-eyed, mmoving. Gauguin feared that, unedited, it woulr seem absurdly crude; and no doubt it would have, to most readers in his day. But we want it as it is -- its sketch form, jerky directness, authentic freshness. This edition is illustrated with excellent facsimiles of all the water-colours which the artist painted for the book" from the Translator's Note. Price clipped. Only the slighttest age-toning to spine dj, else Pristine, no wear. Clean, tight and strong binding with no underlining, highlighting or marginalia. Muted-orange cloth framed lettering in brown and black on front board, and brown and black lettering to spine.