A rare treasure, one of Jane Birkin’s four personal Birkin Voyageur bags, is set to highlight Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week this December.
One of only four Birkin handbags ever owned by the late British actress and singer Jane Birkin is set to be auctioned in Abu Dhabi this December. The event forms part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, taking place at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort from December 2–5.
Gifted to Birkin by Hermès, the black handbag, known as “Le Birkin Voyageur”, was one of four that the legendary artist used after selling her original prototype Birkin. The bag, carrying an inscription handwritten by Birkin herself, is expected to sell for between $230,000 and $430,000 during the live auction on December 5.
Jane Birkin’s Record-Breaking Birkin Bag Legacy
This auction follows the record-breaking sale in July 2025 of Birkin’s original Hermès prototype, which sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s Paris, becoming the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction.
That sale ignited renewed global interest in both Hermès Birkin handbags and the late star’s personal collection, long celebrated for its authenticity and understated charm.
The Philanthropic Story Behind Le Birkin Voyageur Auction
After selling her first Birkin in 1994 to support a French AIDS charity, Hermès began gifting the actress replacement bags, each one becoming a reflection of her personal journey and social activism.
Birkin would frequently auction off her used bags to raise funds for causes close to her heart, a tradition that continued throughout her life.
Le Birkin Voyageur, her daily companion between 2003 and 2007, is remembered as a deeply personal item that captured her effortless style and humanitarian spirit.
The sale marks the first time in more than 15 years that this particular model will appear at auction, making it a rare opportunity for collectors and admirers alike.
Jane Birkin’s Timeless Influence Beyond Fashion and Luxury
The Birkin bag, originally designed in collaboration between Jane Birkin and Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984, went on to become one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of luxury.
Yet beyond fashion, Birkin’s connection with the handbag reflected her philosophy of giving and reinvention.
Sotheby’s and other auction houses highlight the growing interest in Birkin’s bags, especially her personal items, with particular focus on her activism and personal stories embedded in these items.
As Le Birkin Voyageur is auctioned in Abu Dhabi, it continues that story, linking art, legacy, and philanthropy in a city that is increasingly recognized as a global hub for high-value art and luxury collectibles.
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