La Chatte: roman. COLETTE.

First edition, inscribed by the author on the half-title, "à mon admirable Hélene, un peu de bleu pour sa chambre-à-rêver, avec mon féudre [?] et profoude amitie". This is number 30 of 45 copies on blue japon, from a total edition of 2,469. The recipient was Hélène Picard, a fellow poet and dear friend of Colette. Picard had previously seen substantial success as a writer but was struggling to stay afloat when she met Colette in 1921. Both were writing for Le Matin and they immediately became fast friends: Colette hired Picard as her secretary, praised her poetry, helped her get work, and found her a small top-floor apartment at 29 Rue d'Alleray, decorated all in blue. Both came from similar provincial backgrounds, adored fine food, and appreciated the company of animals, although Picard's preferred pets were bright blue birds. Their friendship survived Picard's later years, where she confined herself to her little blue attic, suffering from severe rheumatism, depression, and increasing paranoia. This copy was inscribed prior to Picard's refusal to accept visitors, although she and Colette maintained an intimate correspondence up until Picard's death; their letters were edited by Claude Pichois and published in 1958. This copy of La Chatte, printed on blue japon, was a thoughtful gift for a reclusive and much-admired friend. La Chatte has been described as one of Colette's "minor masterpieces" (New York Times). It depicts a young couple whose marriage falters when it becomes clear that the husband has more affection for the cat than his wife. Norell 0272. Margaret Wallace, "Colette and a Cat", New York Times, 9 August 1936. Octavo (184 x 122 mm). Text in French. Mid-20th-century reddish-brown crushed morocco by L. Lévèque, spine lettered in gilt, calf endpapers, gilt edges. Housed in a matching leather-entry wood-covered slipcase. Spine faintly sunned, a few spots of rubbing, else fine.