SIDONIE-GABRIELLEE COLETTE - INSCRIBED SIGNATURE 02/02/1932 - HFSID 200596

SIDONIE-GABRIELLE COLETTE
An extremely rare signature from the French artist and writer, inscribed "To her friends" with her pen name "Willy"
Inscribed signature: "Pour mes amis/[illegible]/Willy", 4¼x5¼. Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954) is a French novelist and performer, best known for her novel Gigi, which spawned a musical of the same name. Graduating from primary school with high marks in math and dictation, Colette went on to marry Henry Gauthier-Villars, a writer and critic often going by the pen name "Willy". When she began writing her first books, she wrote them under her husband's name, and did not reveal her part in the writing until after her husband's death. She later went to work in the music halls of Paris and began performing (and being romantically involved) with Mathilde de Morny, Marquise de Belbeuf, almost sharing an on stage kiss that caused a stir of controversy. The relationship eventually ended with the Colette marrying her second husband and bearing a child. She then continued with her works, writing operas, ballets, poems, and several other articles and novels, including the classic Chéri. The popularity of her works carried for many years, and when her novella Gigi was being made into a Broadway production, it was Colette who made the final decision on then unknown actress Audrey Hepburn to play the lead in the play. Stains across right half of page. Light surface creases. Fold in center. Pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.