Back when Jean-Paul Gaultier left Hermes with a final collection of black on black on black, the initial reaction was lukewarm. No Orange Box? People didn't get it, so of the bags from this collection were even spotted in Hermes' secret annual sale. But as the years went by, the shear brilliance of these pieces has become more and more apparent. The So Black collection is more than just a limited edition, it's a full on experience, from the black box, to the black dustbag, black tissue paper, black ribbon, and matte black paper care booklet with glossy black text, not to mention the iconic black PVD coated hardware and foil-less black brand stamp. Each of these bags is a true Gesamtkunstwerk (a German word roughly meaning a complete, all encompassing work of art). This Kelly Cut is one of the rarest styles created in the collection. An aggressive uncompromising black rectangle. Hermes has repeatedly refused to make any more So Black bags due to the unrepairable nature of the hardware, though this example shows no damage to the PVD coating, and is in overall exceptional condition.