15 views
Rare Hermès · Selected by Jane
Hermès Kelly 40 Transparent Vinyl Souvenir de l'Exposition Bag
$2,500.00
Hermès Kelly 40 Transparent Vinyl Souvenir de l'Exposition Bag
In 1997, Hermès did something it almost never does: it made a joke, and the joke became a grail. The 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 40cm 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. As a nearly thirty-year-old vinyl piece kept in excellent condition, this example has survived far better than most: transparency is unforgiving of wear, and clean surviving examples are genuinely scarce. The included JaneFinds Baginizer organizes and protects the contents that this bag, by design, puts on display.
Condition: 2 – Excellent
Color: Transparent
Material: Vinyl
Includes: JaneFinds Baginizer
Dimensions: 40 × 29 × 11 cm | 15.75" × 11.5" × 4.25"
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 like this one command the category's premium and appeal to collectors, stylists, and institutions alike.
Shop All Kelly
Shop All Birkin
Accessory Chains
Authentication Guide
Date Stamp Reference
Sell With JaneFinds
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 or UPS Overnight Signature, no additional fee unless noted. International: FedEx International Priority or DHL; 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.
Recently viewed