Incomplete autograph letter signed from Frederic II of Prussia to Voltaire, written from Charlottenburg and dated 27 June 1740 [D2250]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV33774
Repository:
Shelfmark:
MS 120.13
Title:
Incomplete autograph letter signed from Frederic II of Prussia to Voltaire, written from Charlottenburg and dated 27 June 1740 [D2250]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
L’amour sur votre coeur à bien plus de pouvoir
Incipit Modernised:
L’amour sur votre cœur à bien plus de pouvoir
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Incomplete autograph letter signed from Frederic II of Prussia to Voltaire, written from Charlottenburg and dated 27 June 1740. It is the fifth and last page of a lengthy letter. The other four pages were held by the Preussisches Geheimes Staatsarchiv in Berlin, but are now missing.
Detailed Summary:
Frederick writes that he envies Émilie Du Châtelet because she possesses something that he would prefer to many other things that he owns. This thing is Voltaire, whom he notes will always keep Du Châtelet in first place in his heart. He ends the letter by noting that no one can love or esteem Voltaire more than him.
Genre(s):
Status:
Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
Format:
Dimensions:
203 x 183 mm
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
The paper is countermarked with the initials ‘VI’
Binding:
Additional Comments:
The pages feature additional horizontal and vertical fold lines. The outer end of the horizontal fold-line is slightly torn on both leaves. Two small holes, perhaps created by a pin, run through the upper centre of both leaves. There are further holes along the additional horizontal fold line. There is an ink stain in the lower left-hand corner of f.1r that runs through to f.2r. There is a small red stain in the upper left-hand corner of f.2v. The letter is written on mourning paper.
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
The initial word on f.1r has been crossed through. A second hand has added the phrase ‘partie dune lettre de la main du roi de prusse’ in black ink in the upper left-hand corner of f.1r. The same hand has added extensive notes to f.2v, entitled ‘nota de moi vers 1829’. These notes explain that the MS is a copy of the end of a letter sent by Frederick on 27th June 1740, providing the reference for this letter in Kehl’s edited volume.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
Ownership:
Owned by Theodore Besterman (1904-1976).
Origin (transcript):
Charlottenbourg
Origin:
Provenance:
Bibliography
Bibliography:
OCV Reference:
vol. 91, ‘D2250’, p.221-24
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol. 91, ‘MS1’, p.223
Record created by:
Record created on: