219 - François Marie Arouet, known as VOLTAIRE (1694–1778). Autograph letter signed “Voltaire,” addressed to Jacques Gaultier, known as Gaultier de La Croze, tutor to Frederick II’s sisters, and later librarian and curator of the medal collection at the King’s Library. Gaultier had taken the name La Croze after his marriage to the niece of Mathurin Veyssière de La Croze (1661–1739), a French-born Orientalist scholar and Prussian librarian. He worked at the court in Berlin and compiled dictionaries in Coptic, Armenian, Slavic, and Syriac. S.l. [Berlin], September 7, 1743. 1 p. in-4. Paper repairs on the reverse.

François Marie Arouet, known as VOLTAIRE (1694–1778). Autograph letter signed “Voltaire,” addressed to Jacques Gaultier, known as Gaultier de La Croze, tutor to Frederick II’s sisters, and later librarian and curator of the medal collection at the King’s Library. Gaultier had taken the name La Croze after his marriage to the niece of Mathurin Veyssière de La Croze (1661–1739), a French-born Orientalist scholar and Prussian librarian. He worked at the court in Berlin and compiled dictionaries in Coptic, Armenian, Slavic, and Syriac. S.l. [Berlin], September 7, 1743. 1 p. in-4. Paper repairs on the reverse. Voltaire dined at the home of the Queen Mother Sophie Dorothée of Hanover and then listened to music at the home of her daughter-in-law, Queen Elisabeth-Christine: “Upon arriving home a little late, I found a note signed by a name that is dear and highly respected by all who love literature. If my poor health had allowed me to go out this morning, I would not have failed to come and thank you. I plan to visit the arsenal today after the parade; I will then have the honor of going to dine with H[er] M[ajesty] the Queen Mother. I believe there will be music at the reigning queen’s residence. It seems to me there will be little time left to view the antiquities. But I will try to find a moment to come and assure you that those who bear the name M. de la Croze are dearer to me than all the antiquities of Rome and Athens [ ].” Provenance: Former Waegner Collection (auction of February 28, 1878, Lepke, Berlin, lot no. 948). Bibliography: Letter published in “Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century,” Voltaire Foundation, Volume VI, 1958, p. 213; Besterman (D2831, with an error in the recipient’s name); Pléiade 1727; Cahiers Voltaire, 11, p. 258.