Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unknown recipient, c.August 1764 [D3557-R1]

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV37256

Repository:

Shelfmark:

RR Auction (Lot 403), ‘Voltaire Autograph Letter Signed’

Title:

Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unknown recipient, c.August 1764 [D3557-R1]

Collection(s):

Related record(s):

No related manuscripts found.

Link to Archive Catalogue:

Link to Digital Resource:

OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

People:

Voltaire: Author
Unknown: Recipient

Incipit Diplomatic:

Monsieur je n’ay demandé quun eclair assement vous avez la bonté de me le donner

Incipit Modernised:

Monsieur, je n’ai demandé qu’un éclair assement vous avez la bonté de me le donner

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

Yes

Brief Summary:

Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unknown recipient. The letter is undated but a docketing notation on f.1v suggests that the letter was received on 3 August 1764.

Detailed Summary:

Voltaire states that he asked for nothing more than an explanation and that the recipient was good enough to give him that. He thanks them for doing so.

Keyword(s):

Genre(s):

Status:

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

1 f.

Format:

Dimensions:

114 x 190 mm

Hands:

3

Watermark:

Countermark:

Binding:

Unbound

Additional Comments:

The MS has been folded into four (since unfolded). There are some small tears to these fold lines, one of which has been repaired with tape. Ink from another letter has imprinted onto the page. The text, which runs vertically, appears to be that of another letter. During the folding process, ink from the MS has also imprinted on the facing sections. A faint circular area in the upper right-hand corner of f.1r suggests that the letter may have been sealed or affixed to another document with a sealing wafer (no longer extant).

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Undecorated

Additions:

A second hand has added a provenance note to the upper right-hand corner of f.1v. The note reads: ‘Ferney 1764 / Voltaire / Dattée du 3e aoust. Recue le 4e. Dit Rep. le -‘. A note has also been added to the upper left-hand corner of f.1r in pencil but is too faint to be legible. 

Marginalia Keywords:

Inclusions:

History

Date:

August 1764

Ownership:

Origin (transcript):

[Ferney]

Provenance:

Sold at the RR Auction sale on 13 September 2023 (Lot 403). The price estimate was $3,000 – $5,000.

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

OCV Manuscript Reference:

Record created by:

Zoe Screti

Record created on:

17 February 2025