First-ever Hermès Birkin handbag to be auctioned in Paris in July

The first Birkin handbag, designed especially for Jane Birkin in 1984, will be auctioned in Paris on July 10, the last day of Haute Couture Week, announced auction house Sotheby’s on Thursday.

The large black leather tote, the original version of one of the world’s most celebrated and expensive handbags, will be the “signature item” in Sotheby’s ‘Fashion Icons’ auction, as Sotheby’s said in a press release.

The handbag will be exhibited to the public at Sotheby’s gallery in New York on June 6-12, ahead of its final presentation at the auction house’s Parisian offices in the 8th arrondissement, on July 3-9.

The “historic handmade prototype,” engraved with the initials J.B., is distinctive for several peculiarities that make it a unique piece: its size, the closed metal rings, the non-detachable shoulder strap, and the incorporated nail clipper.

Jane Birkin was undoubtedly a fashion icon, but she was keen on practicality above all. On a Paris to London flight, the British singer-actress, who died in 2023, complained with a fellow passenger of not being able to find a handbag that fit the needs of a young mother.

The fellow passenger was none other than Jean-Louis Dumas, then boss of Hermès. A tote bag with a pouch for baby bottles was launched by Hermès in 1984, and was named Birkin.

Forty years later, the Birkin leather handbag has become the French luxury house’s most iconic product. It is manufactured in very small quantities to foster its exclusive image. Its prices can vary greatly, from a few thousand euro for the simplest models, to several hundred thousand euros for the most luxurious ones.

In addition to the Birkin handbag, the auction will feature iconic items from runway shows by designers such as Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. The auction will start online from June 26, and will continue until the closing date of July 10.