The Speedy is widely seen as Louis Vuitton's most iconic handbag. Sotheby's explains that it was introduced in the 1930s, as improvements in public transport created demand for bags that were compact but still roomy. In effect it is a scaled-down version of the house's Keepall travel bag, which Gaston Vuitton had introduced in 1930, and it was one of Vuitton's very first handbags.
Its fame grew in the 1960s, when Audrey Hepburn was seen carrying one. The classic sizes are 25, 30, 35 and 40 centimetres, and the range has since grown to include the BB, the Nano, the Mini Sac HL and Neo versions. For decades the Speedy had only its two rolled handles; the Speedy Bandoulière, with a removable, adjustable shoulder strap, arrived in 2011.
The standard canvases are Monogram, Damier Ebène and Damier Azur, but the Speedy has also been a favourite base for artist editions. Among the most collectable are Stephen Sprouse's Graffiti Speedy of 2001 and the Monogram Multicolore Speedy by Takashi Murakami, and yearly limited editions often fetch premium prices on the resale market.