Hermes Black Leather Kelly 40 Retourne Bag
Updated September 20, 2026
| Lot number | 88 |
| Estimate | 20,000.00 - 25,000.00 CAN |
| Auction | September 2026 Online Discovery Auction |
| Date | September 27, 2026 at 4:02 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Lando Auctions |
| Location | Edmonton |
Hermès Black Retourne Kelly 40 with Palladium Hardware When Émile Hermès, son-in-law Robert Dumas, created a ladies' bag with straps in the 1930s, Hermès enters the era of boldness and modernism. In 1956 a photograph was taken of Grace Kelly holding the bag over her stomach to conceal signs of her pregnancy. Hence the Kelly Bag was born. The Retourne style is all about hidden seams. ‘Retourne’ literally means “reversed” in French and describes the construction process, the bag is stitched together and then turned inside out. The stitching is done with the same saddle stitch technique that Hermès uses on all its bags, however because the bag is inverted, these stitches end up inside the bag, as a result they are not visible. The edges of a Retourne bag are softly rolled and piped with leather, giving a rounded finish, resulting in a more curved, relaxed contour at the edges and corners, which also makes them a little more durable against bumps from daily use. The Kelly Retourne tends to hold a bit more than a Sellier of the same size as the softer sides can flex outward slightly to accommodate your essentials, offering ample room for clothing, laptop and documents. Ideal for business trips or weekend getaways, it serves as a luxurious multi purpose carryall for those who need space without sacrificing elegance. - the 40 is the largest classic size of the Kelly Bags - crafted from Togo Leather known for its softness and grain - Palladium Hardware - 15.75 x 11 x 6 in 40 x 28 x 16 cm - leather clochette, padlock with two keys, all numbered identically (33) - detachable, flat leather shoulder strap for crossbody or shoulder carry - protective metal clou (feet) - featuring one zippered pocket and two flat slip pockets. - date stamped on underside of Sangle - includes Hermès dust cover
