Overview

• The original prototype features closed metal rings, a non-detachable shoulder strap, a built-in nail clipper and a hybrid size that blends Birkin 35 and 40 dimensions with a “J. B.” monogram.
• It was conceived in 1984 after a Paris–London flight conversation between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, with Birkin sketching her ideal tote on an airline sickness bag.
• Birkin donated the bag to the French AIDS charity Association Solidarité Sida in 1994 and collector Catherine Benier acquired it at auction in 2000, after which it appeared at MoMA in 2018, the V&A in 2020 and Hong Kong earlier this year.
• Following its New York display through June 12, the bag will be presented at Sotheby’s Paris from July 3 to 9 before leading the Fashion Icons sale in Paris on July 10, with online bidding opening June 26.
• Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags, positions the original Birkin alongside legendary auction lots for its cultural significance and rarity, forecasting competition that could redefine auction records.