This topic did not grab me as much as I thought it would when I requested the book, as a result I did not finish this title. It seems well researched and covers and interesting historical topic, but I just couldn't get into it.

I'm interested in fashion and thoroughly enjoyed this book that made me discover some new to me designer and loved the descriptions of the different styles.
One note: some of the most important handbags designer are French or Italian and it could have been interesting reading about them.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved this little book! While it's got plenty of big names, there are also some really interesting designers and styles featured here that I had never heard of. I had no idea Judith Lieber came up with designs in her head to cope with life under the nazi regime.
Of course, it does seem as though Tracy Martin specializes in designers in the UK and the US; it would have been nice to include designers from other countries.

Thank you, NetGalley for a chance to read and review this ARC!

Tracy Martin has written a great book about handbags - the photos and advertising pictures are terrific and the book includes really interesting details about the history of women's handbags. The book also connects the handbags to overall fashion and accessories of the period. I never heard of Wilardy Originals before reading this book and really enjoyed the details and pictures of their Lucite bags. My only qualm is that the book is rather short - only about 150 pages. Definitely will search out more books by this author.

This is a FANTASTIC book- I wasn't expecting to be quite as much fun as it is! Martin does a wonderful job of looking at different trends in handbags, and doing a quick rundown of the history of handbags without getting too bogged down. It is a whirlwind history of handbags, but it highlights many designers/styles- some you expect, and some you don't expect at all. Excellent use of pictures!!

This book was entertaining, educational and well written! I loved learning about the history of handbags and how they evolved over time. I also loved learning about my favorite designer of handbags. There was not one dull moment in this book and I like the pictures throughout, it added depth and fun and it was fun to read on my new kindle.

Highly recommended for those in the handbag craze and also the skeptics that do not understand them. Also recommended for people who love the history of inventions of everyday objects. I am definitely getting this at publishing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Tracy Martin and Pen & Sword History for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 8/31/21

I enjoy handbags. While I very generally know of handbag collecting I don't know much, so this was an interesting quick glimpse into what collectors might look for and why certain bags command such a premium.

Great book. Thoroughly loved reading it. Great writing style and choice of topics. Enjoyed every moment.

This was a fascinating book, and as someone who does love a good handbag, I had expected to enjoy it, but I really was surprised at just how interesting I found it.
Absolutely brimming with information about the history of the handbag, and let me tell you, some of the origins are very surprising. I loved all the factoids included too, but I won’t include them here so that it won’t spoil any potential enjoyment for other readers.
My only criticism, and it’s really a personal preference as a handbag lover, It would have been great if there had been more pictures. However, it’s still a very good book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

Tracy Martin's passion for collecting handbags shines through in this book, which is filled with gorgeous pictures.. She explores the history of handbags, including details about chatelaine bags and other early handbags, with fascinating chapters on the more modern decades. She tells you what to look out for when you decide which decade to collect, and writes about the histories of most of the large, glamorous brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Lulu Guiness.

There is also advice about where to buy, and how to look out for scams. There are plenty about! Information about prices is also included.

This is extremely useful for anyone wanting to start a collection of handbags.

If you have ever been interested in collecting purses, this book is the one for you. With an outstanding survey of handbags, mostly by decades, putting special attention to the most collectible manufacturers and designers. I certainly got plenty of great ideas from this book -- I just wish there were more pictures.

One thing to note for readers outside the UK, prices are in pounds and British terms for shops are used.

Collectable Names and Designs in Women's Handbags is an interesting retrospective history of handbags/purses written by Tracy Martin. Due out 31st Aug 2021 from Pen & Sword, it's 240 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is an interesting and broad historical look at containers used to carry necessities. It's mostly, but not exclusively, about handbags/purses because the author does spend a bit of time talking about chatelaines, sweet bags (medieval bags with herbs and pomanders to ward off bad smells), even prehistorical versions (Ötzi had some very fashion forward bags with him when he met his fate in the Alps). Most of the chapters are arranged roughly chronologically and include the modern era from the turn of the 20th century to the modern day.

Many manufacturers are covered, and happily not *just* the big names, although they're there too of course. Some of the manufacturing history behind the production is also provided, and I found that more engaging than the bags themselves. I especially enjoyed reading the comprehensive entry on mesh and lucite bags.

This is not a price guide. The emphasis is more on history and manufacturing. There are some tips and hints on focusing on a period and building/curating a collection. I also liked that the author concentrated more on lesser known areas of handbag collecting, such as the lucite bags.

There are a fair number of photographs in the book, and most are in colour, but it's not a photography heavy coffee table type book. The iconic Hermés, Chanel, Gucci, and other heavy hitters are included (alongside some of the swoon-worthy prices they've fetched at auction), but it's really the quirky, ephemeral, and lesser known bags which kept me enthralled.

I do have a small collection of classic bags myself, mostly modern "popular" brands like Coach, Juicy Couture, and one Louis Vuitton bag, but this book has opened my eyes to a world of possibilities which are within my price range. I don't imagine I'll ever own a Hermes Birkin, but there are a load of drool-worthy pictures here to inspire readers' dreams.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

--Fun, Informative Dive into the World of Covetable Handbags--

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and here are my thoughts.

This book is both a history of handbags as well as a showcase for some stunning or unusual bags, many in the author's personal collection.

If you've ever been in the situation where you are running out of space to store your precious handbags...or you've been good and have saved your pennies for practical items, but enjoy looking at bags that cost someone else thousands to accumulate...this book might be exactly what you need.

Handbags you can enjoy looking at, but didn't spend half your salary to buy.

Thumbs up for an enjoyable read and lots of eye candy for the handbag lover.

I do actually have a purse collection consisting of everything from Dooney & Bourke bags purchased at thrift stores to a Gucci purchased in Rome. I even have a vintage gold embroidered Wako clutch with it’s original box and mirror from Japan. So I was very excited to have my wish for this book granted. This book was not what I was expecting and yet it is exactly what the description says it is. I was expecting a lot more pictures of bags and a lot less writing. The information found in the book was honestly very interesting. It includes a history of the handbag with information about what was typical in each era and what people who want to collect bags from that era should look for. I enjoyed the insight of how history shaped the types of bags carried in the different eras, for example some WWII-era bags had compartments for gas masks. However, I’m a very visual person and a firm believe in fashion as art, so I wished more of the items described would have been depicted in the book. I enjoyed the author’s personal stories about her collection and it was obvious she knows and loves purses.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.