You may have missed out on buying Jane Birkin’s very own Hermès Birkin, but you can get one she autographed. Heritage Auctions is offering a Birkin twice signed by the iconic bag’s namesake in an accessories auction this week.

The original Birkin was custom-made for the late, great Franco-British actress in 1984. Legend has it that Birkin sat next to then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London and told him she needed a practical yet elegant bag to carry all her personal belongings. Dumas made her exactly that, presenting an all-black leather prototype that sold for a record $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in June 2025. While this Birkin is not the first created, it is one of the rarest handbags to come to auction, according to Heritage, with a provenance that distinguishes it from others on the market. 

The bag belonged to Midori Senga, a longtime friend of Birkin, who, along with her husband, owned the Agnes Hotel in Tokyo. (That was reportedly Birkin’s favorite place to stay when visiting the city.) Birkin wrote “Midori Your Friend Jane” in white on the front interior wall and “Midori Jane” on the rear interior pocket in silver. She also gave the bag the special “Birkin” treatment, stepping on it to soften the Courchevel leather, Heritage says. Birkin was a big believer that bags were meant to be used rather than displayed, and told Senga not to worry about signs of wear. 

This bag is done in a beautiful “Bleu Marine” hue with contrasting hold hardware. It includes the signature clochette with a lock and two keys. There is some visible scuffing to the exterior, but at least the leather should be soft like Birkin likes it. Bids are sitting at $16,000 at time of writing. 

Also featured in the auction is a holy grail Birkin in coveted matte white Himalaya Niloticus crocodile. The bag is fashioned from the hide of a Niloticus crocodile, which has been carefully hand-dyed to create a white-to-grey ombre that evokes the Himalayan mountains. Bids are currently at $57,500.  

Other highlights include a limited-edition Kellymorphose Sac Bijou Chaine Bag handcrafted entirely in sterling silver and a limited-edition So Black Box Calf Kelly Retourne designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for his final runway show. In addition to Birkins and Kellys, an impressive selection of Mini Kellys in exotic skins and rare finishes is up for grabs. 

“This auction represents the pinnacle of luxury collecting,” says Diane D’Amato, Heritage’s director of luxury accessories and private sales at the boutique. “From historically significant pieces to the rarest limited editions, it brings together pieces that transcend fashion and enter the realm of cultural artifacts.”

The auction will take place live in Dallas and online at 10 a.m. CT on April 23. Online bidding will close 10 minutes before the sale.