Princess Gardner Vintage French Purse / Trifold Wallet in Black Pebbled Leather
French Purse, Trifold Wallet, Pouch · Princess Gardner (Prince Gardner Co.), a mid-century American heritage brand known for functional personal leather goods, categorized as vintage accessible luxury.
Collection: Signature Fine Leather Small Goods line, permanent vintage collection from the mid-to-late 20th century.
Style
French Purse, Trifold Wallet, Pouch
Brand
Princess Gardner (Prince Gardner Co.), a mid-century American heritage brand known for functional personal leather goods, categorized as vintage accessible luxury.
Material
Full-grain pebbled cowhide leather; machine-stitched with reinforced nylon thread; folded edge construction and interior fabric lining sections.
Dimensions
Width: 12cm (4.7 in), Height: 9cm (3.5 in), Depth: 2.5cm (1 in). Small/Compact variant.
Description
A classic example of mid-century Americana leatherwork, the Princess Gardner French purse offers a compact, organized solution for the vintage enthusiast. Featuring a pebbled leather exterior and a secure hardware closure, it embodies the practical elegance of the 1970s.
Key Features
Debossed 'Princess Gardner GENUINE LEATHER' script logo, vertical rectangular turn-lock, and the recognizable pebbled texture common to the brand's 'Fine Leather' series.
Material & Construction
Full-grain pebbled cowhide leather; machine-stitched with reinforced nylon thread; folded edge construction and interior fabric lining sections.
Color & Pattern
Classic Black with a natural pebbled grain pattern; permanent colorway.
Hardware Details
Gold-tone or brass-plated metal; features a signature small vertical rectangular turn-lock or kiss-lock mechanism with visible oxidation/patina.
Interior Description
Black fabric or synthetic silk lining; features a coin compartment, several card slots, and a bill compartment with the Princess Gardner script logo heat-stamped inside.
Closure Type
Exterior flap with a vertical turn-lock or snap closure; likely a 'French Purse' style with a secondary internal kiss-lock for coins.
Strap & Handle Details
Hand-held only; no straps or handles are associated with this small leather good model.
Craftsmanship Details
Displays high-quality industrial craftsmanship with straight, consistent stitching and resilient leather that resists deep scratching, indicative of 1970s American manufacturing standards.
Authentication Indicators
Deeply debossed, cursive brand stamp with clean kerning; consistent machine stitching with roughly 8-10 stitches per inch; weight of the hardware components.
Origin & Manufacturing
Mainly manufactured in the USA (St. Louis, Missouri) by the Prince Gardner Company.
Era & Period
Vintage mid-century design, specifically the 1960s-1970s era of American functional leather accessories.
Age Estimate
Circa 1970-1979 based on the logo font style and the brass hardware aging.
Cultural Significance
Represented the rise of organized consumer leather goods for women in the post-war era, popularized in department stores like Sears and Macy's.
Condition Notes
Exterior: Good to Very Good; visible softening of leather and slight corner smoothing. Hardware: Moderate oxidation on the brass. Interior: Generally durable with potential slight fading.
Value Estimate
$25 - $60 USD, depending on the condition and functionality of the clasp mechanism. Factors including original packaging can increase value.
Care & Maintenance
Regular application of a mild leather conditioner like Bick 4; store in a cool dry place; avoid overstuffing to maintain the structural integrity of the trifold.
Similar Handbags
Vintage Coach small wallets, Buxton leather pouches, and vintage Rolfs trifolds. Differences include the specific script logo and the unique turn-lock hardware.
Interesting Facts
Prince Gardner was once the largest manufacturer of personal leather goods in the world, headquartered in St. Louis and famous for their 'Registrar' wallets.