Letter from Voltaire to Jean-François de La Harpe, written in the hand of Wagnière and dated 24 May 1773 [D18393]

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV37643

Repository:

Shelfmark:

MS 127.25

Title:

Letter from Voltaire to Jean-François de La Harpe, written in the hand of Wagnière and dated 24 May 1773 [D18393]

Related record(s):

No related manuscripts found.

Link to Digital Resource:

Link to Archive Catalogue:

OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

People:

Incipit Diplomatic:

Je souhaitte que la calomnie ne députe point quelques uns de ses serpents à la cour pour perdre ce génie naissant, en cas que la cour par hazard entende parler de ses talents.

Incipit Modernised:

Je souhaite que la calomnie ne députe point quelques-uns de ses serpents à la cour pour perdre ce génie naissant, en cas que la cour par hasard entende parler de ses talents.

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

No

Brief Summary:

Letter from Voltaire to Jean-François de La Harpe, written in the hand of Wagnière and dated 24 May 1773.

Detailed Summary:

Keyword(s):

Genre(s):

Status:

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

2 ff.

Format:

Dimensions:

158 x 100 mm

Hands:

2

Watermark:

The paper is partially watermarked with text reading: ‘D&C Blauw’. The watermark is partial due to the paper being cut.

Countermark:

Binding:

Unbound

Additional Comments:

The MS was folded into three and sealed with a wafer seal before sending. The wafer seal is partially extant on f.2v and has caused some damage to the same.

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Undecorated

Additions:

The opening quotation from Les Lois de Minos and the closing Latin phrase have been underlined. Omitted text has been added superscript on l.17 of f.1v. Several postmarks have been stamped over the address panel on f.2v, and additional posting instructions have also been added here in a second hand. The MS has been endorsed as ’35’ in the upper left-hand corner of f.1r.

Inclusions:

History

Date:

24 May 1773

Ownership:

Owned by Theodore Besterman (1904-1976).

Origin (transcript):

Origin:

Provenance:

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

OCV Manuscript Reference:

Record created by:

Zoe Screti

Record created on:

26 January 2026