This embossed, leather pocketbook is a rare survival that proclaims its origins in colonial New York City. In the 18th century, these personal accouterments were fashioned of either needlework or leather. Typically, the former were made by family and friends as personal gifts, whereas the latter were produced by professionals, such as T. Anderton, a “Book-Binder, Letter Case, and Pocket Book-Maker,” who advertised his recent arrival from England in a December 1764 issue of The New-York Mercury. Today, much of our knowledge about 18th-century pocketbooks comes from contemporary newspaper advertisements that were placed if one was lost, found, or stolen. These same notices often record their contents, which could include paper money and coins, jewelry, and other small objects fashioned of precious metals.

Related example: New-York Historical Society.