Louis XV Autograph letter signed to Ferdinand I of Parma

LOUIS XV (1710 - 1774), king of France

Autograph letter signed to his grandson, Ferdinand 1st of Parma (1751-1802), son of Elizabeth of France. Versailles, February 3, 1766; 1/2 page in-4°. Beautiful red wax seal with the arms of France and Navarre. Autograph address on fourth page: "To my brother, and grandson Ferdinand, child of Spain, Duke of Parma, and of Piacenza"

Beautiful letter from the king which gives the latest news from the court, the near end of the dowager queen of Spain, grandmother of Ferdinand I of Parma, and finally, as usual, the meteorological update of the moment, essential head of orchestra of his hunting parties in the woods of Versailles: "We were this morning in the Service of the Knights of the Order of the Holy Spirit who died last year, my very dear grandson. There are only two. My tears and yours do not need me to name them for you. The bitter cold is this year in all countries, even the hottest. It had started to thaw in the past few days, but today it started to thaw again. However, I went hunting. I also receive an envoy from the Grand Duke [the Grand Duke of Tuscany]; but I don't know that he is still in Paris. The Queen of Spain, your grandmother [Elisabeth Farnese Dowager Queen], was not too well by the latest news we received. To God, my dear little son, I embrace you with all my heart..."

Letter referenced in the correspondence 'Letters from Louis XV to the Infante Ferdinand of Parma Edition Grasset



The Order of the Holy Spirit is an order of chivalry founded on December 31, 1578 by Henri III, the most prestigious of the French monarchy. It was abolished under the revolution in 1791 then reestablished in 1814 under Louis XVIII.

Elizabeth Farnese of Parma (Isabel de Farnesio) married Philip V of Spain, a widower, in 1714 and became Queen of Spain. On the death of the king, she took the title of dowager queen, giving way to Ferdinand VI, fourth son of Philip V and Marie-Louise of Savoy. His youngest son, Philip Duke of Parma and Piacenza, is the father of Ferdinand I of Parma. Almost blind, Élisabeth Farnese died on July 11, 1766, five months after our letter.