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Hermès’ First-Ever Birkin Bag Sold for $10 Million in Paris Auction

Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag sold for $10M at Sotheby’s Paris, becoming the most expensive handbag ever auctioned.

Hermès’ First-Ever Birkin Bag Sold for $10 Million

In a landmark moment for fashion and luxury collectors, the original Hermès Birkin bag, created for British-French icon Jane Birkin in 1984, has been sold for a record-breaking €8.58 million ($10 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris. The sale has shattered all previous records for handbags at public auction.

Auction Sparks Global Bidding Frenzy

*The first Hermès Birkin bag made for Jane Birkin*

The historic sale unfolded with dramatic flair. Bidding began at €1 million, drawing audible gasps from attendees, according to a statement released by Sotheby’s. The competition quickly intensified, with eight determined bidders vying for the rare piece. Ultimately, a private Japanese collector secured the win via telephone bid, pushing the hammer price to €7 million, with the final cost rising to €8.58 million after fees.

This now becomes the most expensive handbag ever sold—a title previously held by a diamond-studded Hermès Kelly 28, which fetched $513,000 at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong in 2021.

A Handbag with a Storied Legacy

More than just a luxury accessory, this particular Birkin bag holds a unique place in fashion history. It was the first prototype crafted by Hermès after a now-famous conversation between Jane Birkin and Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a Paris-to-London flight. Birkin had expressed frustration at not finding a stylish yet practical handbag, which led to the creation of the Birkin bag—a design that would go on to symbolize exclusivity and elegance.

The bag, made in black leather and engraved with Birkin’s initials "J.B.", was her personal carryall for years.

It bore visible signs of her daily use, including stickers, a twine-wrapped handle, and built-in nail clippers. Unlike modern versions, this prototype features non-detachable straps and custom hardware.

A Personal Treasure Changes Hands

Prior to this week’s record-breaking auction, the bag had changed owners just once—when it was purchased by Catherine Benier, a Paris-based boutique owner, at an auction in 1994. The proceeds of that sale went toward AIDS charities.

Following the Sotheby’s auction, Benier expressed both surprise and emotion at the outcome. “I’m astonished at the result,” she said in a statement shared by Sotheby’s. “I’m already nostalgic knowing the bag is no longer mine, but I’m also happy it’s found a new loving home.”

Benier had held onto the bag for 25 years, calling it the “jewel of her collection” in a recent interview with The New York Times.

A Fashion Icon’s Cultural Footprint

Jane Birkin, who passed away in 2023, was known not only for her influence in music and film but also for her strong stance on social issues. She had at one point criticized Hermès for its use of crocodile skins and even threatened to remove her name from the bags over ethical concerns.

Despite occasional tension with the brand, the Birkin bag became—and remains—one of the most coveted accessories in the world. Today, prices for a new Birkin start at around $10,000, and access is limited to Hermès’ most loyal clients. Demand remains so high that in 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Hermès in the U.S., alleging discriminatory sales practices.

Second Most Valuable Fashion Item Ever Sold

With this week’s staggering sale, the original Birkin is now the second-most expensive fashion artifact ever sold at auction. The top spot still belongs to the ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, which sold for $32.5 million in Dallas, Texas, earlier in 2024.

As fashion trends shift from “quiet luxury” to more extravagant, expressive aesthetics, the auction of the original Birkin seems perfectly timed. Its cultural significance, historical backstory, and direct connection to Jane Birkin herself elevate it far beyond a handbag—it’s a symbol of fashion history.

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