The original Birkin bag sold for a record €8.58 million ($10 million) at auction, showing demand remains robust for unique luxury collectibles.The black leather Hermès handbag made some forty years ago for the late singer and actress Jane Birkin was sold in a bidding war that lasted more than 10 minutes at Sotheby’s in Paris Thursday.

Her original Birkin bag trails Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from the 1939 movie The Wizard Oz, which in December fetched $US32.5 million ($49.3 million) at auction in Dallas, as the second most valuable fashion item ever sold. Last month a hat that had belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned for the bargain price of €355,600.