French philosopher, art critic, and writer (1713–1784), best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of and contributor to the Encyclopédie, the most important and ambitious intellectual initiative of the 18th Century. Rare ALS in French, signed “Diderot,” one page, 4 x 6.5, April 11, 1781. Handwritten letter to "Monsieur de St. Aubin" in Paris, in full (translated): "Monsieur de St. Aubin has forgotten that there is a treaty between him and me. I am supposed to send him the first work that will be printed of mine. In return, he is to grant me a Venus Anadyomene and his second small plate of antique stones. If this forgetfulness stems from him valuing his work more than mine and thinking he made a bad deal, he is correct. If not, he will hand over the Venus to the bearer, well wrapped so that his dirty and coarse hand cannot spoil it. I send my regards and embrace him as always." At the end of the letter, Saint-Aubin added the date in pencil: "1781, I sent him a Venus before the letter in February 1782." In fine condition. The letter was transmitted by Eugène Charavay to Maurice Tourneux, who published and commented on it in "Diderot et Catherine II" (Paris, 1899, pp. 419-420). Diderot's autograph is exceedingly rare: we have offered just two examples in the course of the last decade.
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