The American quilting traditions especially from crazy quilts were applied to cigar bands. The silk cigar bands were used to bundle cigars. Each maker had his own logo, and some a color other than yellow.  I have seen jackets and quilts, purses are rather rare.  They date from 1875 -1911.

In the early 1900’s Leather postcards with postage stamps were sent across the country. They came in different shapes, and had imaginative and funky sayings. For the creative they could be reused. It is rare to find them made into a multi card purse. They are easy to date because of their cancellation marks.

To the purse collector this represents a unique find. It is a fragile paper wallet with a calendar. 1886 - 1887 made by Sewell’s Envelope Factory in Chicago (Patented by Alfred L Sewell April 1, 1884).

To the historian, this is a treasure trove. It was used at the beginning of the industrial age in the 1880’s. The same era in American History when Thomas Edison patented (1879) and began commercializing his incandescent light bulb and Henry Ford began repairing and constructing engines. 

This is the story of the David Bradley invention creating a new and better technology of a Cold Forged Plow that was light, strong, and compact. It could turn a corner without strain on the wheels and would be a boon for plowing fields. 

But this story continues beyond the calendar dates of this wallet. It intersects origins of the Sears Catalogue (1888) which was created to bring the latest consumer products to the public much of it rural.

In 1910, the Sears Roebuck Company bought the David Bradley Company in order to take advantage of the market for modern farm machinery.

This purse probably dates from the 1930s or later. It’s sort of a tongue in cheek version of putting your money in your stocking.