Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II, written in the hand of Wagnière and dated [c. Friday, 25 July 1777] [D20743].
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV33972
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.5), ‘(M. 10036.)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II, written in the hand of Wagnière and dated [c. Friday, 25 July 1777] [D20743].
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Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
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Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Monsieur le grand rêveur, personne n’a jamais fait un plus beau songe que vous.
Incipit Modernised:
Monsieur le grand rêveur, personne n’a jamais fait un plus beau songe que vous.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II, most likely written in the hand of Wagnière and dated [c. Friday, 25 July 1777].
Detailed Summary:
The manuscript is a draft of a letter contemplating ‘Rêve’ (Œuvres de Frédéric, xv.29–34), composed by Frederick II, King of Prussia, and dispatched to Voltaire. It also references the poetry authored by Frederick II, as showcased in D20721, and cites the previous letter, which had solicited the king’s contribution to the Bern prize. T. D. N. Besterman traditionally placed this letter in August 1777; however, since it responds to the king’s letter of 9 July (D20721) and was answered by Frederick on 13 August (D20764), a safe estimation places its composition around 25 July 1777.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
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Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
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History
Date:
c.25 July 1777
Ownership:
After Voltaire’s death, the MS passed into the ownership of Catherine II and remained in the imperial and then national collection thereafter.
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Provenance:
This MS was probably taken to St Petersburg by Wagnière in the summer of 1779 along with the rest of Voltaire’s library.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Fernand Caussy, Inventaire des manuscrits de la bibliothèque de Voltaire conservée à la bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg (Geneva, Slatkine reprints, 1970)
OCV Reference:
128, p. 324–325
OCV Manuscript Reference:
128, p. 325
Record created by:
Record created on: