Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Ferney and dated 15 August [1759?] [inédit]

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV37403

Repository:

Shelfmark:

Sotheby’s, Lot. 478, ‘Candide. [Londres], 1759. Élégante reliure avec portrait en porcelaine de Voltaire et lettre autographe.’

Title:

Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Ferney and dated 15 August [1759?] [inédit]

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:

le vieux malade Monsieur aprend tout le bien que vous continuez de faire a notre pauvre province.

Incipit Modernised:

Le vieux malade Monsieur apprend tout le bien que vous continuez de faire à notre pauvre province.

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

Yes

Brief Summary:

Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Ferney and dated 15 August [1759?].

Detailed Summary:

The letter is bound into a 1759 edition of Candide printed in England. In the letter, Voltaire writes that he, the ‘vieux malade’, has learned of all the good the recipient continues to do for his poor province. He both congratulates and thanks the recipient, adding that Wagnière will tell them how attached both he and Madame Denis are to them.

Keyword(s):

Genre(s):

Status:

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

1 f.

Format:

Dimensions:

153 x 97 mm

Hands:

1

Watermark:

Countermark:

Binding:

The MS is bound into a copy of Candide. The volume is bound in blue Morocco with red morocco inlay at corners, a large gilt tooled vine border, and a spine with gilt in the compartments. Blue and white porcelain cameos of Voltaire’s profile have been mounted to the covers. The volume has gilt edges, watered silk liners and endpapers, and a slipcase by Noulhac.

Additional Comments:

There is foxing throughout.

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Undecorated

Additions:

Marginalia Keywords:

Inclusions:

History

Date:

15 August [1759]

Ownership:

Formerly part of the library of Royet. Later owned by the comte and comtesse Guy de Boisrouvray.

Origin (transcript):

ferney

Provenance:

Passed at the Sotheby’s sale in Monaco on 16 October 1989 (Lot. 52); the Sotheby’s sale in Paris on 19 June 2014 (Lot. 45); and again at the Sotheby’s sale in Paris on 13 October 2022 (Lot. 478) where it sold for €11,970.

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

OCV Manuscript Reference:

Record created by:

Zoe Screti

Record created on:

16 June 2025