Boldly penned ALS in French, signed “V,” one page, 7 x 9, October 23 [with “1754” noted in another hand in the upper left corner]. Letter to his German publisher Walther, in part (translated): “I would like to repair the wrong we both suffered by our not seeing each other when I was in Saxe. I would also like to send you the manuscript in question but I have been preempted by a learned young man who has worked on the same subject and who may well have succeeded better than me. I learn that his book is already published almost in its entirety. I also don’t know if giving my book elsewhere may not be taken badly in France. It may be that I will suppress it as the work of the young man may make mine useless. I conclude that we should wait.” In fine condition, with intersecting folds and some trivial mirroring of ink. Published in Theodore Besterman’s Voltaire Correspondence. The “manuscript in question” was likely one of Voltaire’s historical biographical works, as he began publication of his multi-volume Annals of the Empire in 1754. With an unidentified young man about to publish his own volume on a similar subject, Voltaire here withholds his own work, also keeping the feelings of his French audience in the forefront. A fantastically bold letter from the enlightened author. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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