The JaneFinds Archive
The Hermès Reference Library: Start Here
A guide to identification, materials, models and care.
Editorial illustration based on a Noir Box calf Mini Kelly II from JaneFinds.
The JaneFinds Reference Library brings together the working guides behind a considered acquisition: identification, materials, proportion, condition and care. Use this index to find the document that answers your question, then return to the individual listing for the facts of the piece in front of you.
Find the right reference
| Reference | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Authentication Guide | How the different features of a bag are examined together, and where specialist assessment is needed. |
| Date Stamp Reference | Year codes, era shapes and related markings; a date stamp is one part of identification. |
| Condition Guide | The JaneFinds five-tier vocabulary, with condition separated from the list of included accessories. |
| Size Guide | Dimensions and proportions across bag families, with context for comparing formats. |
| Leather Reference | Leather and skin names, surface character, construction context and care considerations. |
| Color Encyclopedia | Color families and naming, with photographs and reference context. |
| Hardware Guide | Hardware finishes, motifs and the terms used to describe them. |
| Bag Models | The different Hermès bag families and the design features that distinguish them. |
| HAC Archive | The Haut à Courroies lineage, its proportions and its separate identity from the Birkin. |
| Care Guide | Carrying, storage and handling, including work best left to a specialist. |
| Suede Guide | Doblis, Grizzly, Veau Velours and related editions, with material and care distinctions. |
Move from the reference to the object
Start with the model and format. Then compare the listing’s measurements, leather, color, hardware and production period. Read the condition report and the included accessories as separate parts of the record. If a detail is unclear, ask for the specific photograph or measurement that would resolve it.
A guide helps establish vocabulary and context. It should be used alongside the evidence of the individual piece, particularly with unusual commissions, vintage construction and documented repairs.
Continue through the Journal
For a connected overview, read the Collector’s Compendium. The Journal’s focused stories explore particular materials, design chapters and collecting questions in greater depth.
Have a piece the references cannot settle? A photograph, a stamp or a familiar name may leave important questions open. Contact JaneFinds to discuss the complete piece.