Dubbed the most expensive handbag in the world, ‘The Original Birkin’ will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on July 10 — a legendary piece set to break records.
The world’s most iconic handbag is officially up for auction — and it’s expected to make fashion history. Sotheby’s announced on Thursday, June 5, that The Original Birkin, once owned by the late British-French actress Jane Birkin, will headline the Paris Fashion Icons sale on July 10.
Designed in 1984 following a now-famous encounter between Jane Birkin and then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London, this particular Birkin isn’t just any designer accessory — it’s the handbag that launched a global fashion empire.
While Sotheby’s has not disclosed an official estimate, the buzz around the auction is palpable. “This is a rare moment in the world of fashion when an object transcends trends and becomes a legend,” said Marganne Halimi, Global Head of Handbags and Fashion at Sotheby’s. “Jane Birkin’s Original Birkin bag is such a moment.”
Halimi added that the item stands alongside other historic collectibles like Princess Diana’s Black Sheep Sweater and Freddie Mercury’s stage-worn crown and cloak — both of which fetched extraordinary figures at auction. “Our priority is ensuring it finds a new home worthy of its iconic status and legendary history,” she emphasized.
Unlike commercial versions of the Birkin, this one-of-a-kind bag includes unique details: a non-removable strap, brass hardware, a different-sized body, and an inner zip made by a separate manufacturer. It’s also engraved with Jane Birkin’s initials, giving it unmatched personal and cultural value.
Originally donated by Birkin to the French AIDS charity Association Solidarité Sida in 1994, the bag was later purchased by collector Catherine Benier, who now consigns it. “It was already the most expensive bag in the world when I bought it 25 years ago,” Benier told The New York Times. “But how do you price a legend?”
Ahead of the Paris auction, The Original Birkin will be on public view at Sotheby’s in Manhattan from June 6–10, followed by a display in Paris from July 3–9.
Fashion collectors and cultural historians alike will be watching as this storied bag goes under the hammer, with expectations running high for a record-breaking sale.