Sotheby’s will auction an original Hermès Birkin bag once owned by the late singer and actress Jane Birkin on July 10. The famous black leather bag will be for sale in Paris.
The original Birkin model was created in 1984 exclusively for Jane Birkin and in collaboration with her by Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of Hermès International SCA.
Birkin reminded in an interview how she ran into Dumas on an airplane flight and complained about the lack of a Hermès handbag that would meet her needs. The British-French singer said she drew a model on a bag, and shortly afterward, Dumas gave her an original Birkin, which the brand launched under her name.
Jane Birkin sold her bag in 1994 to raise money for AIDS charity. In 2000, it was put up for auction again, and since then, it has been owned by a collector under the name “Catherine B” on Instagram. Her account states she is “the proud owner of the first Hermès Birkin bag.”
A Sotheby’s representative confirmed that the collector is the seller.