SÉVIGNÉ, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de (1626-1696). Autograph letter signed ('S') to an unidentified correspondent [Philippe Moulceau], Livry, 25 October [1686], 13 pages, 8vo (numbered '30' in a later hand on 1st page, a few small light stains, tiny tear in top left corner of last page, the leaves held together with tape at central vertical folds); and a copy of the letter in an 18th-century hand.
SÉVIGNÉ, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de (1626-1696). Autograph letter signed ('S') to an unidentified correspondent [Philippe Moulceau], Livry, 25 October [1686], 13 pages, 8vo (numbered '30' in a later hand on 1st page, a few small light stains, tiny tear in top left corner of last page, the leaves held together with tape at central vertical folds); and a copy of the letter in an 18th-century hand. A characteristically long and good humoured letter to a favourite correspondent, whose letter 'm'a fait souvenir d'une jolie comedie, ou quelqu'un qui veut avoir un eclaircissement avec celle qui entre lui fait croire qu'elle l'appelle et rentre ainsi en conversation'; describing also the entry of her step-granddaughter Mademoiselle de Grignan into a Carmelite convent, with a zeal 'trop violent pour durer': 'Dans les trois premiers mois, elle s'est trouvee si accablee de la rigueur de la regle, et sa poitrine si offensee de la mauvaise nourriture, qu'elle etait contrainte de manger gras par obeissance'. She continues with news of her son [Charles de Sévigné], and touches on other friends and acquaintances, concluding with justifiable satisfaction: 'Je ne vous ecris pas souvent, mais vous m'avouerez que quand je m'y mets, ce n'est pas pour peu'. Madame de Grignan's stepdaughters lived for some years with Madame de Sévigné in Paris, where the elder, Louise-Catherine, entered the Carmelite convent where her health broke down. She re-entered the world, giving away to her father her fortune of some 40,000 crowns, the source of some satisfaction to Madame de Sévigné ('la plus belle, la plus juste et la plus estimable pensee qu'il est possible d'imaginer pour sa famille'). Madame de Sévigné probably first met Philippe Moulceau (b.1632), President of the Chambre des Comptes at Montpellier, on a visit to her daughter in Provence, in 1672. She addressed him sometimes as 'Monceau' and sometimes as 'Moulceau'. He became a much respected friend, to whom she turned for advice and, from 1681-1696, wrote some of her most delightful letters, first published in 1773. Published in the Correspondance , ed. R. Duchêne (1972-1978, vol. III, no. 944, pages 260-263). (2)
SÉVIGNÉ, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de (1626-1696). Autograph letter signed ('S') to an unidentified correspondent [Philippe Moulceau], Livry, 25 October [1686], 13 pages, 8vo (numbered '30' in a later hand on 1st page, a few small light stains, tiny tear in top left corner of last page, the leaves held together with tape at central vertical folds); and a copy of the letter in an 18th-century hand.
SÉVIGNÉ, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de (1626-1696). Autograph letter signed ('S') to an unidentified correspondent [Philippe Moulceau], Livry, 25 October [1686], 13 pages, 8vo (numbered '30' in a later hand on 1st page, a few small light stains, tiny tear in top left corner of last page, the leaves held together with tape at central vertical folds); and a copy of the letter in an 18th-century hand. A characteristically long and good humoured letter to a favourite correspondent, whose letter 'm'a fait souvenir d'une jolie comedie, ou quelqu'un qui veut avoir un eclaircissement avec celle qui entre lui fait croire qu'elle l'appelle et rentre ainsi en conversation'; describing also the entry of her step-granddaughter Mademoiselle de Grignan into a Carmelite convent, with a zeal 'trop violent pour durer': 'Dans les trois premiers mois, elle s'est trouvee si accablee de la rigueur de la regle, et sa poitrine si offensee de la mauvaise nourriture, qu'elle etait contrainte de manger gras par obeissance'. She continues with news of her son [Charles de Sévigné], and touches on other friends and acquaintances, concluding with justifiable satisfaction: 'Je ne vous ecris pas souvent, mais vous m'avouerez que quand je m'y mets, ce n'est pas pour peu'. Madame de Grignan's stepdaughters lived for some years with Madame de Sévigné in Paris, where the elder, Louise-Catherine, entered the Carmelite convent where her health broke down. She re-entered the world, giving away to her father her fortune of some 40,000 crowns, the source of some satisfaction to Madame de Sévigné ('la plus belle, la plus juste et la plus estimable pensee qu'il est possible d'imaginer pour sa famille'). Madame de Sévigné probably first met Philippe Moulceau (b.1632), President of the Chambre des Comptes at Montpellier, on a visit to her daughter in Provence, in 1672. She addressed him sometimes as 'Monceau' and sometimes as 'Moulceau'. He became a much respected friend, to whom she turned for advice and, from 1681-1696, wrote some of her most delightful letters, first published in 1773. Published in the Correspondance , ed. R. Duchêne (1972-1978, vol. III, no. 944, pages 260-263). (2)
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
