The bag, officially named Hermès Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Porosus Crocodile 30 cm Birkin Bag with Solid 18K White Gold & Diamond Hardware, sold on Dec. 6 to a collector who wished to remain anonymous, according to Heritage Auctions.  BIRKINS AWAY: A Hermès handbag has set a world record for the highest price for a handbag sold at public auction, fetching $203,150 at a sale in Dallas, Texas.
– Recession is relative department: A Hermes handbag sold for a record $203,150 at auction in Dallas this week, reports the Houston Chronicle. The red alligator bag fetched way beyond expectations, helped along by the gold and diamonds embedded in its hardware. It's "an extraordinary example of one of the world’s most exceptional handbags," an official at Heritage Auctions tells Women's Wear Daily. The buyer remained anonymous, apparently not thrilled to be known as the person who shelled out 200 grand for a purse.