Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from Ferney and dated 22 December 1772 [ D18099]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36685
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.35), ’22 décembre 1772, à Ferney, au roi de Prusse (M. 8714)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from Ferney and dated 22 December 1772 [ D18099]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Sire, En recevant votre jolie lettre et vos jolis vers, du 6 xb en voicy que je reçois de Tiriot votre feu nouveliste qui ne sont pas si agréables.
Incipit Modernised:
Seigneur, En recevant votre jolie lettre et vos jolis vers, du 6 xb en voici que je reçois de Tiriot votre feu nouvelliste qui ne sont pas si agréables.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from château de Ferney and dated 18 November 1772.
Detailed Summary:
The letter includes a two-stanza poem that lauds the character and accomplishments of Frederick II of Prussia, notably omitting any mention of religious virtue. In the main body, Voltaire addresses a range of subjects, including immortality and religion, and concludes with critical remarks about Mustafa III, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The letter wraps up with an extensive array of greetings and well-wishes for the correspondent.
Keyword(s):
Status:
Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
The MS is a opy of original document: transcription, with a few autograph additions.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
22 December 1772
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:
123, p. 272–274
OCV Manuscript Reference:
123, p. 216
Record created by:
Record created on: