The oldest Birkin Bag will be auctioned in Paris in July

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

This large black leather bag, the original one of the most famous and expensive handbags in the world, will be the “heart” of the auction with the title “Fashion Icons”, according to the auction house in a press release.

It will be published in the galleries of Sotheby’s in New York from June 6th to 12th, before it will finally be presented in the 8th arrondissement from 3rd to July 9th.

This “historical, handmade prototype”, which is engraved with the initials JB, is characterized by several special features that make it unique, especially due to its size, its closed metal rings, its non -removable shoulder straps and the integrated nail clipper.

As fashion kone, Jane Birkin placed great emphasis on practicality. On a flight from Paris to London, the English singer and actress, who died in 2023, complained to her neighbor with the fact that she does not find a bag that would do justice to her needs as a young mother.

This was none other than Jean-Louis Dumas, the then managing director of Hermès. In 1984 a spacious bag was created with a special subject for baby bottles that was called Birkin.

This leather handbag has become the iconic product of the leather goods manufacturer forty years later. It is produced in very small quantities and cultivates an image of exclusivity. The price can vary greatly, from a few thousand euros for the simplest models up to several hundred thousand euros for the most luxurious explanations.

In addition to the Birkin Bag, other iconic pieces from fashion shows by designers such as Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen are also offered at this auction. The online bids can be submitted on July 10th on July 26th until the auction end.