…collection of Georgian sovereign purses. These tiny coin purses came to be called “sovereign purses” after the introduction of the gold sovereign coin in 1817, but had been around for…

…and beaded coin purses of the same period shown on this site. This style of coin purse was often called a sovereign purse after 1817, when the gold guinea was…

Figure 1 Click on images to see larger versions and to read more detail about the purses. Miser purses — also called long purses, stocking purses, or ring purses —…

…large and bulky as pockets had once been, but these were generally considered unwieldy and awkward for evening wear. The tiny, flat coin purses — called sovereign purses in England…

Pocket case, or pocket book, English c1780, 6″ x 3 ¼”. This envelope-style purse is made of ribbed blue silk decorated with silver spangles. Closed, it has a flap that…

…The magazine text clearly describes the pelisse as amber-colored, with matching shoes and purse. Yet this colorist has made the pelisse green, and the shoes and purse bright pink. Was…

…etuis holding sewing or writing implements, vinaigrettes, pens, ivory leaves for notes, seals, and tiny coin purses. They were usually held at the waist with a chain, like a watch…

…to be English. Pocket cases were also popular in Europe, and especially in America. Sources Vanda Foster, Bags and Purses, Batsford, 1982. Evelyn Haertig, Antique Combs and Purses, Gallery Graphics…

…as seen in this detail of the print. This is a miser purse, which you can read more about on this website in the Regency World article on miser purses….

Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, October 1812. “Morning Costume.” Remove the spencer and the purse (“ridicule”) and this would look like an indoor morning dress. But once you’ve grabbed the spencer,…