[VOLTAIRE] - VEUVE DENIS: Voltaire (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his 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, & Marie-Louise Mignot, Veuve Denis (1712-1790) Mistress and Secretary of Voltaire. Mignot was a niece of Voltaire. When her husband died, in 1744, she became known as “Veuve Denis” her husband´s surname (“Widow Denis”). On the return of Voltaire from Prussia in 1753, Mignot joined her uncle and since then lived with him until his death. Voltaire published under her name several pamphlets and a comedy. She was the universal legatee of Voltaire´s works. Very rare L.S., `Denis´, one page, 4to, Paris, 5<sup>th</sup> January 1779, in French. The present document is signed only few months after Voltaire passed away and is a certificate proving that Marie-Louise Mignot is alive, relating to the life annuity that Voltaire was granted by the Wurttemberg Royal court. The document states `Je sous-signé certifie que Dame Marie Louise Mignot, Veuve de M. N. Charles Denis, Commissaire Ord. des guerres, est actuellement en vie - Le Baron de Thun, Ministre Plénipotentiaire de Wurttemberg à la cour de France´ (“I, the undersigned, certify that Dame Marie Louise Mignot, widow of M. N. Charles Denis, Commissioner Ord. of wars, is currently alive - Baron de Thun, Plenipotentiary Minister of Wurttemberg at the court of France”) The letter bears beneath the text a red wax seal in fine condition. Professionally repaired to the edges, otherwise G