Cosette is exhibited in full size, first in plaster, at the Salon des Artistes Français (1888) and then at the Universal Exhibition the following year. It reappears, in bronze this time, at the Salon in 1890 (an only example listed in that size and not localized today) as belonging to the foundries Siot and Persinka, which suggests the beginning of the edition at that time. Aware that Cosette can impose herself, Pompon wants to make it in marble in order to propose it to the French state. The latter then refused three times despite the political support of the member and the senator from his hometown, and the artistic recommendations of his employers.

With the incomes of his practices, Pompon bought the marble block at his own expense and sent his work to the Salon des Artistes Français (1898) and then to the Universal Exhibition the following year. Despite this rich pedigree, and the ten years of action of Pompon, the marble is not purchased by the French State and the bronze edition by Siot Decauville was stopped progressively. The Cosette already presents its helical composition, which will make its success in animal sculpture, « Movement creates Form».