Overview

• The original prototype Birkin, conceived from a 1969 flight sketch by Jane Birkin and Hermès chief Jean-Louis Dumas, sold to a Japanese collector for €8.58 million at Sotheby’s Paris on July 10.
• Despite a restoration that removed stickers and trinkets, the bag still bears scuffs, scratches and adhesive marks from Unicef and Médecins du Monde decals.
• The hammer price was twenty times higher than the prior auction record of US$500,000 set by Princess Grace of Monaco’s Hermès Kelly.
• Hermès’ policy of controlled scarcity and invite-only sales has fueled a booming secondary market where provenance and rarity command premium prices.
• The landmark sale underscores a growing trend of treating celebrity-owned accessories as collectible assets that rival traditional art at auction.