Letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Ferney and dated 25 December 1775 [inédit]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV37681
Repository:
Shelfmark:
Inlibris, BN#67891, ‘Voltaire [i.e., François-Marie Arouet], French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher (1694-1778). Autograph letter signed (“Voltaire”).’
Title:
Letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Ferney and dated 25 December 1775 [inédit]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Je vous prie, Monsieur, de lire cette Lettre de Mr. Turgot, et de vouloir bien me la renvoier par le porteur
Incipit Modernised:
Je vous prie, monsieur, de lire cette lettre de M. Turgot et de bien vouloir me la renvoyer par le porteur.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Letter signed from Voltaire to an unidentified recipient, written from Ferney and dated 25 December 1775.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire encourages the recipient to read a letter from Turgot, Contrôleur général des Finances to Louis XVI concerning the 30,000 pounds that had been set as the price for the Pays de Gex’s future immunity from taxation. Voltaire notes that Turgot’s letter shows he fought bitterly for this figure to be reduced and expresses his annoyance that the recipient did not keep him informed of their own negotiations over this price, negotiations Voltaire felt had jeopardised his own attempts to reduce the sum. He then turns to salt, a commodity that had been proposed as an alternative to taxation, stating that this idea had never come to fruition.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
Format:
Dimensions:
195 x 160 mm
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
Stored in a modern, red cloth portfolio.
Additional Comments:
The paper was folded to create a left-hand margin on both the recto and verso sides of the page. The letter was also folded into four (since unfolded). There is a small tear to the lower right-hand side of the MS and slight foxing throughout.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Undecorated
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Inclusions:
History
Date:
25 December 1775
Ownership:
Origin (transcript):
ferney
Provenance:
Placed for sale by Inlibris in 2026 for € 22,500.00.
Bibliography
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OCV Manuscript Reference:
Record created by:
Record created on: