Plastic Purse

Q: I have a purse from the early 1950s, when just about everything was plastic. This purse has a hard flat plastic top that opens to the oval pierced-metal body. The handle attached to the top is plastic, too, and the top is latched to the bottom with an attractive metal hook. You could put a colorful scarf inside the clear purse to match your outfit and hide the purse’s contents. I can’t find a maker’s name on it, but I’m wondering what my purse would sell for.

A: Plastic purses from the 1950s are very collectible. Some women not only display the purses, but also use them. We couldn’t find any old ads that showed clear plastic purses with a colored scarf inside, but we have friends who remember using a scarf that way. Even if you don’t know who made your purse, if it’s in good condition it could sell for $250 or more.