VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his real

VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his real

`it might be true that the sun of Marseille would be favourable for the last days of my life, but… I will have to die in the middle of the snow that I have chosen´

VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his real name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. A rare and unpublished L.S., `V´, signed with his initial, one page, 4to, Ferney, 9th February 1772, to Monsieur Audibert, at the Marseille academy, in French. Voltaire, close to his eighty, states in the third person `A poor and ill old man thank you very fondly, Monsieur, for your oil…´, further telling his correspondent in an amusing way `Have fun with your nice business while you are young. I think that you will not bother me for long Mr. the Marquis of St. Tropez´. Voltaire further responds to his correspondent´s suggestion about moving to the south of France, `..it might be true that the sun of Marseille would be favourable for the last days of my life, but it is too difficult to transplant myself..´, and concludes stating that he will die in Switzerland `..and I will have to die in the middle of the snow that I have chosen. I cannot get angry with them…´ With address leaf, bearing a red wax seal in two parts, in fine condition. Paper with watermark. VG