This exquisite volume presents the best vintage exotic skin handbags by the most renowned designers of the past century and a half. Intended particularly for fashionable women, design students, collectors, dealers, and clothing historians, it outlines the fascinating history of alligator and crocodile handbags, the ultimate status symbol since the 19th century. Many prestigious designers are featured, like Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Coblentz, Evans, Gucci, Hermes, Judith Leiber, Lucille de Paris, Koret, Martin Van Schaak, Rosenfeld, Nettie Rosenstein, Bellestone, Vassar, Roberta Di Camerino, Andrea Pfister, Darby Scott and others. Illustrated with 522 color images created from 855 photographs of about 500 handbags from the author"s collection, and 174 ads from period fashion magazines. Learn how to distinguish alligator and crocodile from turtle, ostrich, lizard, and snake. Includes tips on finding, evaluating condition, proper care, and the wearability of these special fashion accessories. Especially useful is the chapter on how to wear vintage with a modern wardrobe. Over ten years in the making, this rare study is destined to become an important guide to the luxuries market and a useful reference for smart-dressing shoppers everywhere.