Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Birkin Bag Fetches $10.1 Million in Auction
Jane Birkin’s own Hermès Birkin bag has set a new record after selling for over $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in Paris. The sale, held on July 10, now marks this worn leather bag as the most expensive handbag ever auctioned. A private collector in Japan placed the winning bid during a 10-minute phone auction.
This wasn’t just any luxury item. Actress Jane Birkin carried this exact prototype for nearly a decade. The bag had her initials, “J.B.,” engraved, bore stickers from humanitarian groups, and even featured her nail clippers hanging from the zipper. She added a permanent shoulder strap to make it easier to use.
The story of the bag began during a 1984 flight. Jane Birkin had trouble keeping her belongings in order and told Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas she needed a better handbag. He responded by sketching one on the spot. That sketch turned into the first Birkin bag.
- Sold for €8.6 million (about $10.1 million)
- The auction took place at Sotheby’s Paris on July 10, 2025
- Bought by a Japanese collector via phone
- Included stickers, personal accessories, and engraved initials
- Earlier auctions: 1994 (for AIDS charity) and 2000
“Jane Birkin didn’t treat this bag as a trophy,” Sotheby’s said. “She wore it, lived with it, and made it her own.”
This sale now places the bag just behind Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz as the second-most valuable fashion item ever sold.
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