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For true fashion connoisseurs and collectors—the prototype of the iconic Hermès Birkin bag, created in 1984 through an exclusive collaboration with style icon Jane Birkin and then-CEO of Hermès Jean-Louis Dumas, will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction in Paris.

This unique model, known as the “Original Birkin,” marked the starting point of the legendary series and features seven exclusive design elements, including a shoulder strap, gold-plated hardware, and the signature initials “J.B.,” which were not used in subsequent versions.

After Jane Birkin donated the bag in 1994 for charity to a French AIDS organization, it ended up in the hands of collector Catherine Benier, owner of a Parisian vintage boutique.

Sotheby’s has yet to reveal the pre-sale estimate, but Morgan Halimi, head of the Bags and Fashion department at Sotheby’s, notes: “This is not just an accessory — it’s a symbol of an era, an object that transcended trends and became a true legend.”

The “Original Birkin” has already been exhibited at Sotheby’s galleries in Paris and Hong Kong and will be displayed in New York from June 6 to 12 before going to auction on July 10 as part of the Fashion Icons sale. This historic piece promises to be one of the most significant events of the season, attracting the attention of the world’s most discerning collectors.

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