NAF 452, ‘« L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam, traduit… par un brame de Bénarès, … apporté en France par M. de Modave en 1759, donné par luy à Mr de Voltaire en 1760, et envoyé à la Bibliothèque du Roy, de Ferney, 14 aoust 1761 ».’
Title:
Contemporary copy of ‘L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam’, annotated by Voltaire
Collection(s):
No related collections found.
Related record(s):
999 6 — L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam The record for this volume in the Library of Voltaire.
Contemporary copy of L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam annotated by Voltaire.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire acquired this manuscript from the chevalier de Maudave in 1760 and presented it to the Bibliothèque de roi (now the Bibliothèque nationale de France) in August 1761. The text is a commentary on the Vedas, though rather than being a precious authentic text as Voltaire imagined, it was composed by Jesuits in Pondicherry. He inscribed a title page (f.iir) outlining what he knew and believed about the manuscript and its history.
The text dates to 1759, with Voltaire adding to the manuscript in 1761.
This volume contains four items:
f.[i] Notice sur le Zozur Bedo et sur sa traduction par Mr Court de Gebelin
f.[ii] Title page in Voltaire’s hand: ‘L’Ezour-védam ou ancien commentaire du védam traduit de la langue du hanscrit par un Brame de Bénares correspondant de la compagnie des indes […]. This appears to have been written on a pre-existing blank page.
There are several ink blots throughout, including on the right-hand side of f.1v, across f.2r, and across f.9v-10r. Some of the text has been smudged, and there is a minor stain to the top of f.1r.
Voltaire has added a title page in his own hand to what appears to have been a pre-existing blank page. There are several minor corrections throughout in the form of crossings out, crossings out with corrected text added superscript, and corrected text being written over the top of incorrect text. Select words and phrases have also been underlined throughout. Voltaire has added two marginal notes to the left-hand side of f.14r
The chevalier de Maudave brought the manuscript from India to France in 1759, and gave it to Voltaire in 1760. Voltaire then gave it to what was to become the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
D. S. Hawley, ‘L’Inde de Voltaire’, SVEC 120 (1974), p.139-78.
Voltaire, ‘Ezourvédam’ (ed. O. Ferret) in Questions sur l’Encyclopédie (ed. N. Cronk and Ch. Mervaud) in OCV, vol.41, p.310-311.
Contemporary copy of ‘L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam’, annotated by Voltaire
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV37415
Repository:
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France
Shelfmark:
NAF 452, ‘« L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam, traduit… par un brame de Bénarès, … apporté en France par M. de Modave en 1759, donné par luy à Mr de Voltaire en 1760, et envoyé à la Bibliothèque du Roy, de Ferney, 14 aoust 1761 ».’
Title:
Contemporary copy of ‘L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam’, annotated by Voltaire
Collection(s):
No related collections found.
Related record(s):
The record for this volume in the Library of Voltaire.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Visit Archive Catalogue
Link to Digital Resource:
Visit Digital Resource
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Zozur est un mot des Langues du Gentoo, et composé du mot Zo contre & du mot Zur poison.
Incipit Modernised:
Zozur est un mot des langues du Gentou, et composé du mot Zo contre et du mot Zur poison.
Language(s):
French
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Contemporary copy of L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam annotated by Voltaire.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire acquired this manuscript from the chevalier de Maudave in 1760 and presented it to the Bibliothèque de roi (now the Bibliothèque nationale de France) in August 1761. The text is a commentary on the Vedas, though rather than being a precious authentic text as Voltaire imagined, it was composed by Jesuits in Pondicherry. He inscribed a title page (f.iir) outlining what he knew and believed about the manuscript and its history.
The text dates to 1759, with Voltaire adding to the manuscript in 1761.
This volume contains four items:
Keyword(s):
Vedas
Genre(s):
Commentary, Translation
Status:
Original
Physical Description
Material(s):
Ink on paper
Extent:
35 ff.
Format:
Folio
Dimensions:
Hands:
4
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
Cardboard
Additional Comments:
There are several ink blots throughout, including on the right-hand side of f.1v, across f.2r, and across f.9v-10r. Some of the text has been smudged, and there is a minor stain to the top of f.1r.
Materiality Keywords:
Additional Paper, Ink Splatter, Library Stamp, Smudge
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
Voltaire has added a title page in his own hand to what appears to have been a pre-existing blank page. There are several minor corrections throughout in the form of crossings out, crossings out with corrected text added superscript, and corrected text being written over the top of incorrect text. Select words and phrases have also been underlined throughout. Voltaire has added two marginal notes to the left-hand side of f.14r
Marginalia Keywords:
Annotation, Correction, Marginal Note, Underlining
Inclusions:
History
Date:
14 August 1761
Ownership:
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Pondicherry, India
Provenance:
The chevalier de Maudave brought the manuscript from India to France in 1759, and gave it to Voltaire in 1760. Voltaire then gave it to what was to become the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
D. S. Hawley, ‘L’Inde de Voltaire’, SVEC 120 (1974), p.139-78.
Voltaire, ‘Ezourvédam’ (ed. O. Ferret) in Questions sur l’Encyclopédie (ed. N. Cronk and Ch. Mervaud) in OCV, vol.41, p.310-311.
OCV Reference:
OCV Manuscript Reference:
Record created by:
Record created on: