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a piece of paper with writing on it sitting on top of a tablea black and white handwriting on a piece of paper with writing on itan old manuscript with writing on it and a pen in ita handwritten manuscript with a black ink drawing of a man ' s face
Maître Jean-Paul RENOUD-GRAPPIN

47 - Alain GERBAULT (1893–1941), a French sailor, sailed solo rou…
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Estimate €500 - €700
Sale commission
Description
Alain GERBAULT (1893–1941), a French sailor, sailed solo round the world. Autograph letter, ‘at sea aboard the Alain Gerbault, from Nukuhiva Island to Hiva Oa (Marquesas Islands), 24 March 1933, to his dear Hanot’; 2 pages, folio. On the Marquesas Islands and football. The sport is only very slowly taking root in the Marquesas Islands, which have just one football pitch, but the first inter-island match has just been organised between the teams from Atuona and Nukuhiva. ‘Alas, A.S. Naiki, of which I am honorary president and for which I used to play, were easily beaten by the Taihoae team, which, incidentally, included six players who had learnt to play football in Papeete [...] As I used to play up front, I could be of little help to my team, which has only ever played on a makeshift pitch dotted with a hundred coconut palms’... In order to encourage the leaders to take an interest in the development of the sport, he organised this major match and is offering a challenge cup. He asked for ‘a suitable cup that would make an impression (not too prone to rusting in the tropics)’ to be chosen, and for it to be sent to him once it had been engraved with the words ‘Alain Gerbault Cup’... He asks that a copy of the latest football rules be sent to Mr Bervas, a radio telegraphist in Atuona...
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About the sale AUTOGRAPHS & MANUSCRIPTS – PENNED BY HISTORY’S GREAT FIGURES
Auction location
Auction time 09/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Ref. : 226165 - 31
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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