Jane Birkin's Highly Personal 'Le Birkin Voyageur' Handbag Set for Abu Dhabi Auction

The enduring legacy of style icon Jane Birkin continues to captivate global collectors. A particularly intimate piece of her personal collection, an Hermès bag known as “Le Birkin Voyageur,” is scheduled to go under the hammer at an upcoming sale in Abu Dhabi. This specific item is exceptionally rare, being one of only four examples gifted directly to the singer and actress by the house of Hermès. The sale is slated for December 5, 2025, offering a tangible artifact that chronicles the life of a legend.

“Le Birkin Voyageur” was presented to Birkin in 2003 and was actively used by her until 2007, a history evidenced by the visible signs of wear and personal annotations. The auction house has placed its estimated value between $230,000 and $430,000 USD. What truly sets this lot apart is the handwritten inscription found inside: «Mon Birkin bag qui m'a accompagné dans le monde entier»—a phrase translating to “My Birkin bag, my companion on world travels.” Furthermore, the leather bears sketches and notes left by Jane herself, making it the sole Birkin bag known to carry such a unique, personal signature. Prospective buyers will have the opportunity to view the bag during its public exhibition, which runs from December 2 to December 5.

The auction will take place during the debut Abu Dhabi Collectors Week, hosted at the luxurious St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. This new event aims to solidify Abu Dhabi's position as a major global cultural hub, bringing together auctions for high-end luxury goods, including jewelry, timepieces, fine art, and collectible automobiles. The appearance of this specific Birkin bag follows a significant historical precedent established in July 2025. During that month, the original prototype of the Birkin bag was sold in Paris for a sum exceeding $10 million, securing its place as the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction.

Morgane Halimi, the Global Head of Handbags and Fashion at Sotheby's, commented on the extraordinary nature of the sale, noting that presenting two of Jane Birkin’s personal bags for auction within a single year is an exceptional occurrence. The tradition surrounding Birkin’s bags dictates that after she sold a previous model for charity, Hermès would present her with a new one. The iconic Birkin design itself originated in 1984 following a chance encounter between Jane Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, the head of Hermès, aboard an airplane, where her belongings famously spilled out. “Le Birkin Voyageur” was first offered for sale in 2007 to raise funds for the International Federation for Human Rights before it entered a private collection. Its current reappearance offers connoisseurs a rare chance to acquire a deeply personal artifact that encapsulates the spirit and history of the fashion icon.