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FANTASTIC VINTAGE COACH BRIEFCASE
MADE IN THE UNITED STATES!
With fully functional buckles!
Length: 16 1/2
Height: 11 (excluding handle)
Width: c. 4 1/2, expanded.
Founded in 1941 as Manhattan Leather Bags, Coach was originally started to produce handbags that had the suppleness and longevity of a baseball glove. While its high-quality products were very much in demand, the company really took off after 1962 when it hired the American sportswear fashion designer Bonnie Cashin, who specialized in highly functional, minimalist designs.... in eye-popping hues such as lime green, pink, and scarlet for its women's lines.
In 1979 Lew Frankfort joined the company, and in just a few short years transformed it from a company centered on New York to one with an international reputation. Naturally, this expansion meant that Coach had to open several more factories--first in the United States, and then off-shore.
Not surprisingly, Coach's US-made products are considerably more desirable--both because they are more true to the company's American origins and original ethos, and because it is believed that they are made in better working conditions (almost certainly correct) and are of higher quality (quite possibly true).
I'm thus *very* pleased to offer this beautiful Coach briefcase--made in the United States. While dating early Coach products is more of an art than a science (the serial numbers on bags produced prior to 1994 were unique to each bag, and cannot be readily deciphered as Coach didn't use any standard numbering system then) a lot of information can be gleaned from the interior label.
The earliest Coach bags (i.e., prior to the mid 1970s) lacked the Coach "creed", and featured only the Coach logo. The Coach creed started to be placed on the bags in the mid-1970s, while the early New York City stamp was phased out in the early 1980s, being replaced with "Made in the United States". Since this briefcase is identifed as being "Made in the United States" it likely dates from the mid to late 1980s.... But you'd never guess this from its condition and classic timeless design!
Indeed, the condition of this bag is a testament to the incredible quality and craftsmanship of Coach's US-made products; you'd never guess how old this bag was just by looking at it.
Made from beautiful glove-tanned cowhide this is a classic Coach flapped briefcase.
It features two large main compartments with the rear one featuring a zippered interior pocket; it also has a full-length "newspaper" compartment on the rear. It has two small compartments at the front under the flap for ease of storage of smaller items. All of the internal compartments are covered by the main flap which is secured by two brass buckles at the front. These are fully functional buckles--NOT faux-buckles that hide magnetized fastenings or clips.
The handle is attached to reinforced areas on the top of the case. The edges of the case feature wrapped leather seams for strength and durability. All of the hardware is brass.
This case still has its original oversized leather tag--a design feature that allowed customers to feel the quality of the leather without having to caress the bag in the store! There is no separation at all between the two halves of the hangtag, which shows just how well made this case is. This bag does show the usual patina of scuffs and wear a bag of its age. Given this, it is in Very Good condition--and looks absolutely beautiful.
This will easily give you another three or four decades of use, and so is a bargain at just $125, or offer, boxed, shipped, and insured in the USA!
MADE IN THE UNITED STATES!
With fully functional buckles!
Length: 16 1/2
Height: 11 (excluding handle)
Width: c. 4 1/2, expanded.
Founded in 1941 as Manhattan Leather Bags, Coach was originally started to produce handbags that had the suppleness and longevity of a baseball glove. While its high-quality products were very much in demand, the company really took off after 1962 when it hired the American sportswear fashion designer Bonnie Cashin, who specialized in highly functional, minimalist designs.... in eye-popping hues such as lime green, pink, and scarlet for its women's lines.
In 1979 Lew Frankfort joined the company, and in just a few short years transformed it from a company centered on New York to one with an international reputation. Naturally, this expansion meant that Coach had to open several more factories--first in the United States, and then off-shore.
Not surprisingly, Coach's US-made products are considerably more desirable--both because they are more true to the company's American origins and original ethos, and because it is believed that they are made in better working conditions (almost certainly correct) and are of higher quality (quite possibly true).
I'm thus *very* pleased to offer this beautiful Coach briefcase--made in the United States. While dating early Coach products is more of an art than a science (the serial numbers on bags produced prior to 1994 were unique to each bag, and cannot be readily deciphered as Coach didn't use any standard numbering system then) a lot of information can be gleaned from the interior label.
The earliest Coach bags (i.e., prior to the mid 1970s) lacked the Coach "creed", and featured only the Coach logo. The Coach creed started to be placed on the bags in the mid-1970s, while the early New York City stamp was phased out in the early 1980s, being replaced with "Made in the United States". Since this briefcase is identifed as being "Made in the United States" it likely dates from the mid to late 1980s.... But you'd never guess this from its condition and classic timeless design!
Indeed, the condition of this bag is a testament to the incredible quality and craftsmanship of Coach's US-made products; you'd never guess how old this bag was just by looking at it.
Made from beautiful glove-tanned cowhide this is a classic Coach flapped briefcase.
It features two large main compartments with the rear one featuring a zippered interior pocket; it also has a full-length "newspaper" compartment on the rear. It has two small compartments at the front under the flap for ease of storage of smaller items. All of the internal compartments are covered by the main flap which is secured by two brass buckles at the front. These are fully functional buckles--NOT faux-buckles that hide magnetized fastenings or clips.
The handle is attached to reinforced areas on the top of the case. The edges of the case feature wrapped leather seams for strength and durability. All of the hardware is brass.
This case still has its original oversized leather tag--a design feature that allowed customers to feel the quality of the leather without having to caress the bag in the store! There is no separation at all between the two halves of the hangtag, which shows just how well made this case is. This bag does show the usual patina of scuffs and wear a bag of its age. Given this, it is in Very Good condition--and looks absolutely beautiful.
This will easily give you another three or four decades of use, and so is a bargain at just $125, or offer, boxed, shipped, and insured in the USA!
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