One of COLETTE's last letters from Monaco. 1954.

Sidonie Gabrielle Colette , known as COLETTE (1873.1954)

Autograph letter signed to her friend Elvire Choureau, known as “Boss”.

Four pages in-8° on letterhead from the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco.

 [Monaco. February 27, 1954, according to postmark].

« … one of the worst bad writing days I've ever endured... »

At the end of a correspondence of more than ten years, Colette writes a final and very moving letter to her friend. She died five months later in Paris.

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“ Say, dear, is it aventurine? If it is not aventurine, I do not know what name to give to this crystal here troubled, further clear, and which challenges one of the worst days of bad writing that I have endured. I would like you to believe that my various rheumatisms are better, and that I deserve to put one of these necklaces (Indus, I think?) around my neck that I loved so much, that I will, I feel, love again Again. Yours, dear, is the most attractive. Pink, and purple at the same time, and equipped with a pendant which is a frozen fruit. My dear, you must not be too kind to me. I care too much about everything I care about. I couldn't do without you for five more minutes. Already, Monte-Carlo is adorned with too many charms, among which I include the mistral rising early this morning, it is cold, it smells good, it rocks the palm trees, it brings us a blue, a green and a white edge of foam. Gigi's success makes us very happy. Our naivety is not that far away. Maurice is even more charming than in Paris... Dear Edwige, I don't want to write today to anyone but you. In the hollow of your ear, I whisper a confession that you must accept, you are a very formidable person. There are certain agreements – sound of voice, face, shaking of hands, and how to call a certain look, a victorious look that never ceases to conquer me. That's how it is. What to do there? Kiss me, Edwige! Your Colette. Maurice is your entire friend. Excuse my sad writing. »

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Elvire Choureau (1892.1986) – founder of the bookstore L'Artisan du livre, which she managed for more than fifty years – met Colette at the dawn of the Second World War. The two friends did not leave each other until the latter's death.