Featured Victorian coin purse or wallet. For men? women?

Hello all! I picked this up at auction recently, it's not in great shape but I couldn't leave it behind. It actually looks better now than it did since cleaning and conditioning it. Is this Victorian? The patent date looks like 78 (1878?!). It has beautiful, tooled decoration on the leather and stamped gold critters. Do you think it was for a man or woman to use? It is 6.5"L x 2"W. All info and feedback appreciated as always.

 

I would not have been able to leave it behind either.

 

Isn't that Athena?

Debora

 

I would have jumped on it too!
Here is a similar one being called a wallet
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1200588743/antique-leather-wallet-with-1911-train

 

Thanks for the link, love that there was an old train ticket in this listing!

 

Ah, I wasn't sure!

 

Very cool. I would have grabbed it as well!

 

@Bronwen

 

I used to have a number of antique leather wallets from the turn of the century.

Mens' wallets were typically larger, with more compartments and pockets.

I'd say that this was a ladies' wallet. The shape and amount of stuff you can pack inside it would suggest as such.

 

That’s a neat one, I’ve never seen one that shape. I’d guess ladies. I have a handful of men’s wallets from the early 20th and 19th and one supposedly from the 18th c. They are such neat personal items.

 

I think that's a comb case.

 

Thank you everyone!

 

Really? I hadn't thought of that.

 

I've seen them, had a few. It's possible this one was meant for a comb at the back, coins or whatever in front.

 

Yes, I can see that. Thank you!

 

Makes perfect sense! Perfect length for that and with the hard case. Tooled leather was popular around that time for comb cases. I have one or two tooled leather just comb cases/sleeves.

 

Would you think late 19th century or early 20th? Or too hard to tell?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if your clutch purse wasn't a tad newer, Edwardian rather than Victorian.

Debora

 

I'm with Edwardian too. And it might be a man's. Could be either, tbh.

 

I’d agree with Bears leaning.