Voltaire, François Marie Arouet de. Autograph Letter Signed, ‘Voltaire’, to Mr. Rolt, in English
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV33384
Repository:
Shelfmark:
Swann Auction Galleries- Lot 272
Title:
Voltaire, François Marie Arouet de. Autograph Letter Signed, ‘Voltaire’, to Mr. Rolt, in English
Collection(s):
No related collections found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/VOLTAIRE-FRANÇOIS-MARIE-AROUET-DE-Autograph-Letter-Signed-Vo?saleno=2296&lotNo=273&refNo=659088
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Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
my soul is free everywhere.
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In Own Hand:
Brief Summary:
Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Richard Rolt, written from Colmar and dated 20 February 1754.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire explains that the delay in his response was caused by his Niece’s illness as she was the one transmitting his letter. He discusses the misfortune shared by disloyal people, noting that ‘misfortune lyes on those who violate the laws of mankind.’ He informs Rolt that he can count him in the rank of subscribers as well as in the rank of his friends because he likes his works and way of thinking, and adds that if his health was better he would come to ‘breath the air of liberty in england.’ Voltaire concludes by saying that he his happier in the French countryside than at court and states that he is less proud of his title as a gentleman of the King’s chamber than he is the status of being Rolt’s friend.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
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Hands:
2
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Additional Comments:
There are a few small tears along the edges of the document that have been repaired with paper. The letter has been mounted to a larger sheet along the central fold line.
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Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
An asterisk has been added to line 3 of the final page of the letter linking to a note at the bottom of the page in a second hand explaining which texts Voltaire claimed to be a subscriber of.
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