Candide, ou l’optismime
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV37203
Repository:
Shelfmark:
Ms-3160
Title:
Candide, ou l’optismime
Collection(s):
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OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Il y a avait en Westphalie, dans le château de Monsr. le Baron de Thunder ten tronckh, un jeune garçon à qui la nature avait donné les mœurs les plus douces.
Incipit Modernised:
Il y a avait en Westphalie, dans le château de monsieur le baron de Thunder ten tronckh, un jeune garçon à qui la nature avait donné les mœurs les plus douces.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
This is the only known manuscript of Candide that precedes the novel’s publication, identified as such by Ira Wade in 1956. A fair copy in the hand of Wagnière, sent to the duc de La Vallière, probably in several instalments, it contains authorial corrections, and a sheet pasted over some of the original text, giving a new reading for part of chapter 22. There is a mistake in the title, with ‘l’optismime’ for ‘l’optimisme’.
Detailed Summary:
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
145 pp.
Format:
Dimensions:
205 × 160 mm
Hands:
4
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
Red leather with gold tooling.
Additional Comments:
Bound in red leather with gold tooling, bearing the title ‘CANDIDE’ running vertically in a section of the spine, and with marbled endpapers. It contains two replacement gatherings covering the end of chapter 22 (p.109-112) through to the beginning of chapter 23, with an additional replacement sheet pasted onto f.113. Textually, there are two versions of chapter 22. The first of these begins on the original p.107-108, and finishes over p.109-112 of a replacement gathering. The second chapter 22 begins on the second added gathering (p.112 bis-112 quinquies [the latter actually numbered 113 in what looks like Voltaire’s hand]). An extra piece of paper, numbered 113 bis, has been stuck with bits of red wafer seal over the original p.113 to hide the end of the first chapter 22.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
After the front endpaper, a gathering (2 leaves) of plain white paper is present. On [f.1], a librarian has noted: ‘154 pages plus les p.112 bis, ter, 4ter 113 bis à 113 qqter / Mars 1884’ with some of the ink transferring onto the verso of the facing endpaper. On [f.4], another hand has written ‘Cat. de Nyon No 8864’.
On p.1, alongside the page number, a more recent librarian has written the current shelfmark, ‘3160’ in pencil, encircled. The ‘Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal’ appears beneath this.
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History
Date:
[1758]
Ownership:
This was sent by Voltaire to the duc de La Vallière and in his possession before it eventually passed to the Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal.
Origin (transcript):
[Les Délices]
Origin:
Provenance:
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Ira O. Wade, ‘The La Vallière MS of Candide’, The French Review 30 (October 1956), p.3-4.
Ira O. Wade, Voltaire and Candide, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1959.
Nicholas Cronk, ‘Voltaire et le don du manuscrit’, Genesis 34 (2012), p.19-36 (p.21-23).
.
OCV Reference:
OCV, vol.48
OCV Manuscript Reference:
OCV, vol.48, p.42-52
Record created by:
Record created on: