Back in July 2025, Jane Birkin’s ‘Original Birkin’ was put up for auction in Paris, making a sale of a whopping $10.1 million (approximately Dhs 38 million). Now, in December, another bag owned by the Hermes muse will be up on the auction stand, but not in Paris, in Abu Dhabi.
As part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the bag, nicknamed the “Le Birkin Voyageur”, will be exhibited at St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi from December 2–5, and will be sold at a live auction on the last day.
The bag itself is a rare piece, crafted in black box leather and featuring closed bridges to help fasten the bag—a design element found on the original Birkin. Measuring up to 40 cms in width, also referred to as a size 40, the bag shows significant signs of wear, as it was deeply worn and loved by the late Jane Birkin herself.
The signs of wear and the actress’s personal touches are also what make this bag so beloved. Gifted to Jane Birkin by Hermes, this bag was previously sold at an auction to a private collector in 2007 to benefit the Human Rights Association. As part of its preparation, the actress added poetic handwritten notes and drawings in silver ink all over the bag’s interior. Her musings included the phrases “My Birkin bag”, her signature, “Jane B”, and the most poignant detail – a handwritten note from Jane herself: “Mon Birkin bag qui m’a accompagné dans le monde entier” (My Birkin bag, my globetrotting companion), which inspired the bag’s nickname: “Le Birkin Voyageur” (The Traveler).
Now, it is one of four Birkin bags coming to auction. Listed with an estimate of $230,000 – $430,000 (approximately Dhs 1.6 million), it marks an opportunity to own a piece of legacy and a significant moment of fashion history.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, noted the same, saying, “This is not just a piece of fashion history, but a deeply personal artifact from a cultural and style icon whose legacy continues to inspire.”
Beyond showcasing this cultural moment, the Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week is set to be a grand affair. Spanning multiple luxury and collectable categories, expect to find jewellery, rare timepieces, world-leading collector cars and exclusive real estate from RM Sotheby’s and Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions, alongside a museum-quality exhibition of international fine art.
