Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Cirey and dated 2 May 1739 [inédit]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV37673
Repository:
Shelfmark:
OAK Auctions, ‘Lot 13: VOLTAIRE SIGNS A LETTER REGARDING AN UPCOMING PUBLICATION’
Title:
Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Cirey and dated 2 May 1739 [inédit]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
Incipit Diplomatic:
jay toujours desavoué le preservatif et je nay ay aucune part a la collection des pieces qui sont dans ce petit ecrit
Incipit Modernised:
J’ai toujours désavoué le préservatif et je n’ai aucune part à la collection des pièces qui sont dans ce petit écrit
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Yes
Brief Summary:
Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Cirey and dated 2 May 1739.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire writes that he has always disapproved of Le Préservatif (1738), a pamphlet he had written in response to Desfontaine’s criticism of his Éléments de la philosophie de Newton, denying any part in the writing of the work and the little pieces contained within it, many of which, he claims, were never intended to be made public.
Keyword(s):
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Status:
Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
Dimensions:
114 x 178 mm
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
Unbound
Additional Comments:
The MS has been folded in half vertically (since unfolded). A small tab of paper has been affixed to the upper right-hand corner of f.1r and there are several pin holes in the lower right-hand corner of the same.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
A second, unknown hand has added a provenance note to the upper left-hand corner of f.1r that reads: ‘copie de des[?]’.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
2 May 1739
Ownership:
Origin (transcript):
cirey
Provenance:
Passed at the OAK Auctions sale on 7 November 2025 (Lot. 13) where it sold for $3,228.75.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
OCV Reference:
OCV Manuscript Reference:
Record created by:
Record created on: