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Rare Hermès · Curated by Jane
Hermès Kelly 40 Transparent Vinyl Souvenir de l'Exposition Bag
$2,500.00
Condition 2 – ExcellentIn 1997, Hermès did something it almost never does: it made a joke, and the joke became a collector's piece.
The object record
- Condition
- 2 – Excellent
- Material
- Vinyl
- Made in
- France
- Color
- Transparent
- Metallic finish
- Gold
- Dimensions
- L 40 × H 29 × D 11 cm | L 15.75" × H 11.5" × D 4.25"
- Includes
- JANEFINDS Baginizer
- Care
- Protect from humidity, prolonged light and extreme heat, and seek an appropriate assessment before treatment. Care Guide
The story behind the Kelly
Created in the 1930s by Robert Dumas as a women's bag with straps: a trapezoid with two triangular gussets, a cutout flap, a handle and two side straps. It took the Kelly name in 1956, when Grace Kelly made it famous. Sellier construction keeps the seams on the outside for a more defined outline; Retourné construction turns them inside for softer edges. The leather does not decide the construction: Box calf Kellys are recorded in both.
Discover Hermès Kelly BagsThe Souvenir de l'Exposition Kelly reinterprets the house's most formal silhouette as a transparent vinyl beach bag, produced as a limited souvenir for the traveling Hermès exhibition and never repeated. The 40 cm frame, the flap, the sangles and turn-lock profile are all faithfully rendered, then made see-through, trading discretion for wit. What was sold as a playful memento has become one of the most recognizable novelty pieces in the Hermès archive.
The body is clear vinyl throughout, displaying its contents as part of the styling, with the commemorative Souvenir de l'Exposition printing marking its origin. Transparency is unforgiving of wear on a vinyl piece of this age. The included JANEFINDS Baginizer organizes and protects the contents that this bag, by design, puts on display.
Collector's Insight:
The vinyl Kelly was sold in connection with the 1997 Hermès exhibition rather than through regular boutique channels, making the production a single fixed run. It occupies a distinct niche in the archive: an official Hermès product that comments on its own icon. Museum and editorial appearances have kept it culturally visible far beyond its original souvenir price point.
Resale Insight:
Novelty and archival Hermès pieces trade on cultural significance rather than leather-goods comparables. Supply is fixed and shrinking as vinyl examples degrade, so condition drives the market: clean, un-yellowed examples lead the category and appeal to collectors, stylists and institutions alike.
Condition, defined +
Every piece is graded on the JANEFINDS five-tier scale: 1 Pristine, 2 Excellent, 3 Very Good, 4 Good, 5 Vintage, Well-Loved. Each tier is defined in writing in The Condition Guide.
The JANEFINDS standard +
Every piece is authenticated in-house and individually inspected, and ships with a JANEFINDS Certificate of Authenticity.
Delivery and payment +
Domestic: FedEx Direct Signature, no additional fee unless noted. International: FedEx International Priority; duties and taxes may apply at destination. We do not ship to P.O. boxes. Orders ship within two business days of inventory and payment confirmation; contact us for expedited service.
Payment: Credit-card acceptance and payment arrangements are determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact JANEFINDS to confirm the payment arrangements for your purchase. Billing details must match the card exactly.
Returns +
A return may be requested within 24 hours of delivery, with the security tag intact and the piece returned complete and in original condition. Approved returns carry a 5% restocking fee. Full details in our Returns and Exchanges policy.
Complete the piece
Carried with.
Chains, straps and cases selected to work with this piece.
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Why JANEFINDS
How JANEFINDS authenticates-
30+
Years of Hermès scholarship, collection, and authentication.
About Jane -
$2.8M+
The highest authenticated Hermès resale on record, a private transaction placed by Jane.
About JANEFINDS -
One review
Every piece on this site has passed Jane's hands. No exceptions.
How we authenticate -
Five tiers
Every piece is graded on the published JANEFINDS Standard, each tier defined in writing.
The Condition Guide