HERMES 1956 Early Edition Black Leather Kelly Bag
A slice of Hermès history. In 1928, Robert Dumas reimagined the Haut à courroies bag originally designed in 1892, as a smaller, elegant bag for transporting important papers and files. He named it the Sac à Dépêches, or “dispatch bag.” While popular during its time, the bag didn’t gain legendary status until costume designer Edith Head styled Grace Kelly with the bag for the 1955 classic To Catch a Thief. It is said that Grace loved the bag so much that she reportedly refused to return it. Two years later in 1957, she married the Prince of Monaco, and famously used the bag to hide her first pregnancy. A photo of her holding the bag was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, prompting fashionable women the world over to flood Hermès boutiques asking for the “Kelly bag.“ 20 years later, Hermès officially changed the name of the Sac à Dépêches to the Kelly bag.
We are thrilled to offer this extremely rare black box leather 1956 Hermès Kelly. This bag has been fully restored and is ready for the next 70 years.
Measurements:
- Length: 14” at base, 12” at top
- Width: 5.5” at base, 2” at top
- Height: 9.5” without strap
- Strap drop: 3.75”
Material:
- Box leather with gold tone hardware
Has “L” stamp on interior of sangle strap indicating a production year of 1956.
Condition:
- Good, normal vintage wear for age. Was recently sent to a leather specialist and fully reconditioned. Cracking at corners and interior pocket flap separating from lining. Comes with Hermes dust bag!
Condition rating system:
“Perfect” indicates like-new, never worn or new with tags
“Great” indicates very slight wear with no major visible damages
“Good” indicates some visible wear and/or slight damage
A slice of Hermès history. In 1928, Robert Dumas reimagined the Haut à courroies bag originally designed in 1892, as a smaller, elegant bag for transporting important papers and files. He named it the Sac à Dépêches, or “dispatch bag.” While popular during its time, the bag didn’t gain legendary status until costume designer Edith Head styled Grace Kelly with the bag for the 1955 classic To Catch a Thief. It is said that Grace loved the bag so much that she reportedly refused to return it. Two years later in 1957, she married the Prince of Monaco, and famously used the bag to hide her first pregnancy. A photo of her holding the bag was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, prompting fashionable women the world over to flood Hermès boutiques asking for the “Kelly bag.“ 20 years later, Hermès officially changed the name of the Sac à Dépêches to the Kelly bag.
We are thrilled to offer this extremely rare black box leather 1956 Hermès Kelly. This bag has been fully restored and is ready for the next 70 years.
Measurements:
- Length: 14” at base, 12” at top
- Width: 5.5” at base, 2” at top
- Height: 9.5” without strap
- Strap drop: 3.75”
Material:
- Box leather with gold tone hardware
Has “L” stamp on interior of sangle strap indicating a production year of 1956.
Condition:
- Good, normal vintage wear for age. Was recently sent to a leather specialist and fully reconditioned. Cracking at corners and interior pocket flap separating from lining. Comes with Hermes dust bag!
Condition rating system:
“Perfect” indicates like-new, never worn or new with tags
“Great” indicates very slight wear with no major visible damages
“Good” indicates some visible wear and/or slight damage
A slice of Hermès history. In 1928, Robert Dumas reimagined the Haut à courroies bag originally designed in 1892, as a smaller, elegant bag for transporting important papers and files. He named it the Sac à Dépêches, or “dispatch bag.” While popular during its time, the bag didn’t gain legendary status until costume designer Edith Head styled Grace Kelly with the bag for the 1955 classic To Catch a Thief. It is said that Grace loved the bag so much that she reportedly refused to return it. Two years later in 1957, she married the Prince of Monaco, and famously used the bag to hide her first pregnancy. A photo of her holding the bag was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, prompting fashionable women the world over to flood Hermès boutiques asking for the “Kelly bag.“ 20 years later, Hermès officially changed the name of the Sac à Dépêches to the Kelly bag.
We are thrilled to offer this extremely rare black box leather 1956 Hermès Kelly. This bag has been fully restored and is ready for the next 70 years.
Measurements:
- Length: 14” at base, 12” at top
- Width: 5.5” at base, 2” at top
- Height: 9.5” without strap
- Strap drop: 3.75”
Material:
- Box leather with gold tone hardware
Has “L” stamp on interior of sangle strap indicating a production year of 1956.
Condition:
- Good, normal vintage wear for age. Was recently sent to a leather specialist and fully reconditioned. Cracking at corners and interior pocket flap separating from lining. Comes with Hermes dust bag!
Condition rating system:
“Perfect” indicates like-new, never worn or new with tags
“Great” indicates very slight wear with no major visible damages
“Good” indicates some visible wear and/or slight damage