Secretarial copy of Mérope with autograph corrections by Voltaire, c.1743.
Detailed Summary:
This MS played a part in the production of the edition of Mérope published by Prault fils in 1758. The play was first performed at the Comédie-Française on Wednesday 20 February 1743 at the Jeu de Paume de l’Etoile.
One section of 6 sheets folded to form 24 pages, paginated on the recto sides only (skipping p.9). Most of the first leaf is torn away.
One section of 6 sheets folded to form 24 pages, similarly paginated
2 leaves paginated 51-54
1 section of 5 sheets folded to form 20 pages, paginated 55-69. The penultimate blank is unpaginated and the final blank is mostly torn away
An additional piece of paper has been inserted between p.60 and p.61 which gives the text of v.115-124. There are remnants of red wax throughout the fifth act which suggest that other additional sheets were affixed to the MS but these corresponding slips are no longer extant.