Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Anne Madeleine Louise Charlotte Auguste Bollioud de Saint-Julien, baronne d’Argental [née de La Tour Du Pin], written from Ferney and dated 25 August 1772 [D17885]

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV37629

Repository:

Shelfmark:

MS 127.11

Title:

Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Anne Madeleine Louise Charlotte Auguste Bollioud de Saint-Julien, baronne d’Argental [née de La Tour Du Pin], written from Ferney and dated 25 August 1772 [D17885]

Related record(s):

No related manuscripts found.

Link to Archive Catalogue:

Link to Digital Resource:

OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

Incipit Diplomatic:

Ce n’était pas madame quand je n’avais plus l’honneur de vous tenir a ferney que mes jours devaient etre filés d’or et de soye.

Incipit Modernised:

Ce n’était pas Madame quand je n’avais plus l’honneur de vous tenir à Ferney que mes jours devaient être filés d’or et de soie.

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

Yes

Brief Summary:

Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Anne Madeleine Louise Charlotte Auguste Bollioud de Saint-Julien, baronne d’Argental [née de La Tour Du Pin], written from Ferney and dated 25 August 1772.

Detailed Summary:

Keyword(s):

Genre(s):

Status:

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

2 ff.

Format:

Dimensions:

197 x 157 mm

Hands:

1

Watermark:

The paper is watermarked with an elaborate shield.

Countermark:

Binding:

Unbound

Additional Comments:

The MS has been folded into four (since unfolded). Some ink transfer across f.1r occurred during the folding process. There is further ink transference from another document in the lower left-hand corner of f.2v. There is a circular stain at the centre of the top edge of the MS, and a small hole to the left of the signature on f.2r.

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Undecorated

Additions:

The date line has been added in Wagnière’s hand. The MS is endorsed as ’40’ in green ink and ‘A made de st julien’ in an unknown hand in the upper left-hand corner of f.1r.

Marginalia Keywords:

Inclusions:

History

Date:

25 August 1772

Ownership:

Owned by Theodore Besterman (1904-1976).

Origin (transcript):

ferney

Provenance:

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

OCV Manuscript Reference:

Record created by:

Zoe Screti

Record created on:

12 January 2026