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Descriptive Summary

Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Location: b
Call No.: MS Fr 167
Creator: Bliss, Susan Dwight, collector.
Title: Susan Dwight Bliss autograph collection,
Date(s): 1481-1915.
Quantity: 1 box (.5 linear ft.)
Language of materials: Collection materials are in French and English.
Abstract: Letters, notes, documents, and other manuscripts of French historical figures as well as George Washington and William Makepeace Thackeray.

Acquisition Information:

Access Restrictions:

Preferred Citation for Publication:

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by author.

Scope and Content

Consists of 62 items, including letters, notes, documents and other manuscripts (with typed transcripts) written mostly by famous French historical figures, especially royalty, such as Louis XVI. Also includes a few items from William Makepeace Thackeray and George Washington, including a letter from Washington to Sally Cary Fairfax.

Container List

• (1) Alençon, René de Valois, duc d', d. 1492. A.L.s.to Louis XI; Chinon Castle [n.d.] 1s.(4p.)
  Written from prison.
  Vente Fillon, lot 221; Charavay, Paris, 17 Mar 1881, lot 3; Morrison, Sotheby, 5 May 1919, lot 2676. Facsimile in Morrison catalogue.

• (2) Anne, of France, 1601-1666. A.L.s.to [Gaston Jean Baptiste] duc d'Orléans; Paris, 8 Jul 1653. 1s.(2p.)
  Sotheby sale, 15 Dec 1892, lot 2; Morrison, Sotheby, 19 Apr 1918, lot 2152.

• (3) Anne, of France, 1601-1666. A.L.s.to []; Paris, 28 Jan 1650. 1s.(4p.)

• (4) Borgia, Lucrezia, 1480-1519. MS.L.s.to [] duca di Ferrara; Rome, 27 Nov 1501. 2s.(2p.)
  Morrison, Sotheby, 19 Apr 1918, lot 2185.

• (5) Buckingham, George Villiers, 1st duke of, 1592-1628. A.L.s.to []; Madrid, 29 Apr [1623]1s.(1p.)
  Morrison, Sotheby, 19 Apr 1918, lot 2217.

• (6) Cagliostro, Alessandro, conte di, 1743-1795, defendant. [Transcript of evidence:] Confrontazzione fatta con la motta [i.e., Comtesse de la Motte] MS.(unidentified hand); [n.p., 17--] 7f.(16p.)
  Has to do with the affair of the diamond necklace.

• (7) Cagliostro, Alessandro, conte di, 1743-1795, defendant. [Transcript of evidence:] Confrontazzione fatta ... con Mlle. la torre. MS.(unidentified hand); [n.p., 17--] 4f.(8p.)
  Has to do with the affair of the diamond necklace.

• (8) DuBarry, Jeanne Bécu, comtesse, 1743-1793. MS.D.s.; Versailles, 16-17 Apr 1772. 1s.(1p.)
  An order to pay 2,000 livres to one Cagny, receipted by him.

• (9) DuBarry, Guillaume, comte, 1732-1811. A.L.s.to Marquis d'Arlamont; Toulouse, 12 May 1777. 1s.(3p.)

• (10) Elisabeth, princess of France, 1764-1794. A.L.(unsigned) to [Mme ] Schwarzengald; [n.p.] 10 Aug 1792. 1s.(3p.)
  Her last letter before imprisonment.

• (11) Joffre, Joseph Jacques Césaire, 1852-1931. A.MS.s.; [France] 18 Aug 1915. 1s.(1p.)
  A statement concerning American aid in World War I.

• (12) Lamballe, Marie Thérèse Louise de Savoie Carignan, princesse de, 1749-1792. MS.L.s.to Louis XVI; Versailles, 11 Jan 1782. 1s.(1p.)
  Signed and dated in gold ink.
  Dillon collection, lot 603; Morrison collection.

• (13) Lamballe, Marie Thérèse Louise de Savoie Carignan, princesse de, 1749-1792. A.L.s.to Marie Antoinette; Versailles, 1 Jan 1780. 1s.(1p.)
  Ridgway collection, lot 146; Morrison collection.

• (14) La Motte, Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, comtesse de, 1756-1791. A.L.s.to [] Minguet; La Bastille, 25 May 1786. 1s.(1p.)
  Written from prison while awaiting sentence after the affair of the Diamond Necklace.

• (15) Louis XIII, king of France, 1601-1643. A.L.s.to Cardinal Richelieu; Vitry, 16 Oct 1635. 1s.(4p.)
  Morrison sale, 19 Apr 1918, lot 2431, with item 16 below.

• (16) Louis XIII, king of France, 1601-1643. A.L.s.to Cardinal Richelieu; St. Germain, 14 Dec 1638. 1s.(2p.)
  Lot 111 in a French auction, 22 May 1890.

• (17) Louis XIV, king of France, 1638-1715. MS.L.s.to [] le Bret; Versailles, 23 Jun 1694. 1s.(2p.)
  Also signed by Jean Baptiste Colbert.

• (18) Louis XIV, king of France, 1638-1715. MS. and A.L.s.to [] Catinat; Marly, 29 Aug 1691. 6f.(11p.)
  A secret letter, partly in cipher.

• (19) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. MS.D.s.; Versailles, 14 Sep 1788. 14f.(20p.)
  Marriage contract between the Vicomte de Caulaincourt and Mlle. de Tilly Blaru; also signed by Marie Antoinette, Louis XVIII, Charles X, Elisabeth, Adelaide, and Victoire, and many others.

• (20) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. MS.D.(s."Bon"); [n.p.] 14 Aug 1774. 1s.(1p.)
  This and the following nos. 21-38, with a few pieces in addition, in Morrison sale, 19 Apr 1918, lot 2445.

• (21) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.L.s.to Duc de La Vallière; Versailles, 26 Sep 1774. 1s.(2p.)

• (22) Terray, Joseph Marie, 1715-1778. A.L.s.to Duc de la Vallière; La Motte Tilly, 27 Sep 1774. 1s.(3p.)

• (23) Louis XVI, King of France, 1754-1793. A.L.(draft, unsigned) to Comte de Broglie; Versailles, 1 May 1775. 1s.(2p.)

• (24) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p.] 22 Feb 1776. 1s.(1p.)
  Reply to the Great Council.

• (25) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. Decouvertes a Rambouillet, 1781. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p.] 1781. 1s.(4p.)
  Notes on work to be done in the forest of Rambouillet.

• (26) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. Decouvertes a Rambouillet, 1783. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p.] 1783. 1s.(4p.)
  Notes on work to be done in the forest of Rambouillet.

• (27) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. Decouvertes a Rambouillet, 1784. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p.] 1784. 1s.(3p.)
  Notes on work to be done in the forest of Rambouillet.

• (28) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p.] 1785. 1s.(3p.)
  Notes on work to be done in the forest of Rambouillet.

• (29) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p.,n.d.] 4f.(14p.)
  Notes on royal forests and hunting grounds. Folders 3-6 of a longer MS.

• (30) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p., 22 Feb 1787] 1s.(2p.)
  Draft of speech to the Assembly of Notables.

• (31) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.L.s.to [], garde des sceaux; [n.p., 24 Feb 1787] 1s.(3p.)

• (32) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.L.(draft, unsigned) to []; [n.p.] 27 Jun [1789] 1s.(2p.)

• (33) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.L.(draft, unsigned) to []; [n.p.] 17 Jun 1789. 1s.(2p.)

• (34) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. Reponse a une [deputation] du comité des recherches. A.MS.(draft, unsigned); [n.p.] Nov 1789. 1s.(1p.)

• (35) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.L.(draft, unsigned) to the Assembly; [n.p., 6 Aug 1789] 1s.(1p.)

• (36) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. Décision du roy concernant l'etablissement du local des séances de l'Assemblée nationale ... MS.D.s.; Paris, 18-23 Oct 1789. 1s.(4p.)
  With other signatures.

• (37) Louis XVI, king of France, 1754-1793. A.L.s.to []; Paris, 20 Jan 1793. 1s.(1p.)
  Probably the last letter of Louis XVI, asking a delay in order to prepare for execution.

• (38) Louis XVII, king of France, 1785-1795. A.MS.s.; [n.p.,n.d.] 1s.(2p.)
  Two leaves from a copy-book.

• (39) Louise de Savoie, queen regent of France. MS.L.s.to Duc d'Urbin; Paris, 15 Jan 1518. 1s.(2p.)

• (40) Marie Antoinette, queen of France, 1755-1793. A.L.s.to Comtesse de Lamballe; [n.p.,n.d.] 1s.(1p.)

• (41) Marie Antoinette, queen of France, 1755-1793. A.L.(unsigned) to [Maria Theresia, empress of Austria]; [n.p.] 7 Dec [1770] 1s.(4p.)

• (42) Marie Antoinette, queen of France, 1755-1793. A.L.(unsigned) to Comtesse d'Ossun; [n.p.,n.d.] 1s.(1p.) env.

• (43) Marie Antoinette, queen of France, 1755-1793. MS.D.s.; Versailles, 31 Dec 1783. 1s.(1p.)
  Order for payment to the Maitre de mathematiques des pages. Signed once by Marie and once for her by her secretary.

• (44) Mazarin, Hortense (Mancini) de La Porte, duchesse de, 1646-1699. A.L.s.to [] Berthier; [n.p.,n.d.] 1s.(2p.)
  In Charavay sale, 28 Mar 1882, lot 178; lotted with no.45 below in Morrison sale.

• (45) Mazarin, Jules, cardinal, 1602-1661. A.L.s.to Cardinal Richelieu; Lyon, 11 Aug 1642. 4f.(7p.)
  In Sotheby sale, 16 Jul 1883, lot 96; Morrison sale, 9 Dec 1918, lot 1849.

• (46) Noailles, Anna Elisabeth (de Brancovan) comtesse de, 1876- Nos morts. A.MS.s.; [n.p., 1915] 1s.(1p.)

• (47) Nostredame, Michel de, 1503-1566. A.signature and markings on title-leaf and colophon removed from a copy of Bernardino Scardeone, De antiquitate urbis Patavii (Basel, 1560).
  These leaves were probably removed from a volume also owned by the Houghton Library: *FC5.N8425.Zz560s and cataloged in HOLLIS as 9995170: Scardeone, Bernardino,1478-1574. De antiquitate urbis Patavii Bernardini Scardeonii, canonici Patavini, De antiquitate urbis Patavii & claris civibus Patavinis, libri tres : in quindecim classes distincti : ejusdem appendix de sepulchris insignibus exterorum Patavii jacentium. Basileae : Apud Nicolaum Episcopium juniorem,1560.
  See manuscript curatorial file for additonal information.

• (48) Paris. Commune. Conseil du temple. MS.D.(s. Cazenave); Paris, 25 Sep 1793. 1s.(1p.)
  An order for goods to be delivered to the royal family imprisoned in the Temple.

• (49) Pompadour, Jeanne Antoinette (Poisson) marquise de, 1721-1764. A.L.(unsigned) to Voltaire; Fontainebleau, [n.d.] 1s.(2p.)

• (50) Pompadour, Jeanne Antoinette (Poisson) marquise de, 1721-1764. A.L.(unsigned) to Voltaire; [n.p.,n.d.] 1s.(4p.)
  With no.49 above, Morrison sale, 9 Dec 1918, lot 1971.

• (51) Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, cardinal, duc de, 1585-1642. MS. and A.L.s.to Marquis de Brézé; Lyon, 9 Sep 1632. 1s.(2p.)
  Morrison sale, 9 Dec 1918, lot 1986, with nos. 52, 53 below.

• (52) Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, cardinal, duc de, 1585-1642. MS.L.s.to Marquis de Brézé; Saujon, 1 Dec 1632. 1s.(2p.)

• (53) Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, cardinal, duc de, 1585-1642. A.L.(draft, unsigned) to [Louis XIII]; [n.p., 17 Oct 1634] 1s.(2p.)

• (54) Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863. A.L.s.to [Robert] Bell; [n.p.] 3 Sep [1848] 1s.(3p.)
  Ray, no.503, from text printed in The Times, 17 Jul 1911.
  On Bell's review of Vanity fair.

• (55) Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863. A.L.s.to [Philarète] Chasles; [n.p.,n.d.] 1s.(2p.)
  With drawing of Thackeray on horseback.
  Published from a French sale catalogue, partly in French translation, II, 503-504, note 23.

• (56) Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863. A.L.s.to [John] Oxenford; [London, 1848] 1s.(1p.)
  Not in Ray.
  Invitation to a dinner celebrating completion of Vanity fair.

• (57) Washington, George, pres. U.S., 1732-1799. A.L.s.to [Sally Cary Fairfax]; Camp at Fort Cumberland, 12 Sep 1758. 1s.(4p.)
  Sally Cary Fairfax (1730-1811) also known as Sarah Cary Fairfax.
  • Click for color digital images.

• (58) Washington, George, pres. U.S., 1732-1799. Printed D.s.; Philadelphia, 21 Mar 1791. 1s.(1p.)
  Appointment of Daniel Elbridge Updike as inspector of revenue. Also s. by Thomas Jefferson. With seal.
  Framed and glazed.

• (59) Wilhelmine, consort of Frederick William, margrave of Bayreuth, 1709-1758. A.L.s.to Voltaire; Bayreuth, 20 Apr 1752. 1s.(3p.)
  With no.60 below, in Morrison sale, 19 Apr 1918. lot 2140.

• (60) Wilhelmine, consort of Frederick William, margrave of Bayreuth, 1709-1758. A.L.s.to [Voltaire]; [Bayreuth, Jun 1758] 2s.(3p.)

• (61) France. Sovereigns, etc. 1774-1792 (Louis XVI). D.s.; Paris, 3 Dec 1791. 1s. (1p.)
  Order to pay quarterly salary of one of Marie Antoinette's retinue.
  Laid in Inventory no. 130.
  • (62) Poisson, François, seigneur de Lucq. A.L.s. to [M. de Vaudrières]; Compiègne, 24 Jul 1751. 1s. (2p.)
    Includes letter from [ ] La Tour to Poisson; Paris, 23 Jul 1751.
    Poisson was Pompadour's father.
    Laid in Inventory no. 117.