Undated autograph letter from Charles-Augustin de Ferriol, comte d’Argental to an unidentified correspondent
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV32967
Repository:
Shelfmark:
MS 44
Title:
Undated autograph letter from Charles-Augustin de Ferriol, comte d’Argental to an unidentified correspondent
Collection(s):
No related collections found.
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
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OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
votre derniere lettre a mis le comble a ma surprise vous m’ecrives comme vous feriés a un sut et a un homme rempli.
Incipit Modernised:
Votre dernière lettre a mis le comble a ma surprise vous m’écrivez comme vous le feriéz à un sut et a un homme rempli.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Yes
Brief Summary:
Undated autograph letter from Charles-Augustin de Ferriol, comte d’Argental to an unidentified correspondent.
Detailed Summary:
Charles Augustin Feriol, comte d’Argental complains about the behaviour of the unknown male recipient of the letter. He writes that the recipient’s last letter surprised him and that he felt hurt by his behaviour, noting that he hopes the recipient will not destroy an enduring friendship in a single day and remarking upon his surprise that the recipient could turn so quickly from tenderness to indifference. D’Argental concludes by writing that the cold and dry style the recipient had adopted did not suit either his mind or his heart and he would like an explanation as to his changed behaviour, ending the letter by saying that he will spare the recipient, but what will not spare them is the shame. In his notes on this MS, Theodore Besterman suggested that ‘it would be tempting to identify the “meilleur ami” as Voltaire, but the “quinse ans” makes this impossible.’ The letter is unsigned.
Keyword(s):
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
Dimensions:
217 x 173 mm
Hands:
2
Watermark:
The paper is watermarked, though the majority of this watermark was lost when the paper was cut.
Countermark:
Binding:
Additional Comments:
F.1 features a horizontal fold line. There is a small area of damage in the bottom right-hand corner of the recto side and the ink, likely iron gall ink, has caused some corrosion on line 4 of f.1v.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
Some revisions have been made to the text by d’Argental, with words being crossed through and additional text being added superscript. One crossing out on line 4 of p.2 has damaged the paper. A second unknown hand has added a note at the top of p.1 in very faded ink reading: ‘de merite[?]’.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
A piece of pink card printed with the following text on p.1 has been included: ‘Autographs & Documents Historiques. Maison Charavay à Paris, 3, Rue de Furstenberg’. To this, has been added a note in pencil reading: ‘Argental 1°’ and the number ‘167’. On p.4, the same hand has written some notes about the MS in blue ink.
History
Date:
Ownership:
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Provenance:
Bought at auction by Theodore Besterman at an unidentified Charavay sale in Paris.
Bibliography
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