Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II, written from château de Ferney and dated 9 December 1769 [D16032].
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV33982
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.24), ‘Au roi de Prusse, 9 décembre 1769 à Ferney (M. 7727)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II, written from château de Ferney and dated 9 December 1769 [D16032].
Collection(s):
Link to Archive Catalogue:
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Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Quand Talestris que le nord admira
Incipit Modernised:
Quand Thalestris que le nord admira
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II, written from château de Ferney and dated 9 December 1769.
Detailed Summary:
The manuscript is a lettre en verse, starting with a poem comprised of 8 lines and referencing Les Plaideurs by Racine. The poem is likely written by an unnamed Greek author, mentioned at the end of the letter. Throughout the text, Voltaire discusses the literary prowess of Alexander the Great, specifically his excellent skill at writing poetry, mentioning the verses dedicated to Thalestris. Voltaire also praises the Prussian monarch’s library at his new Sans Souci palace in Potsdam.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
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Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
The manuscript carries a few autograph additions.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
9 December 1769
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:
119, p. 360–361
OCV Manuscript Reference:
119, ‘MS1’, p.361
Record created by:
Record created on: