A JR Florida Handbag, Manufactured in Florida, USA.  1960s. 

Julius Resnick rose to popularity during the 1930s.  He was one of the first designers to grasp the importance of vinyl and used the material in his bags…creating the iconic Marshmallow Bag.  Upon retirement, he moved to Florida and built a plant in Hialeah, in 1962. 

This fashionable mid-sized JR Florida handbag is fashioned from fabric and vinyl. The black tabby weave fabric feels like acrylic and is reminiscent of burlap; it has a slight sheen.  The color is a true black and no fading.  I did not see any frays or rips to the fabric. The bag fastens with goldtone kiss lock clasp which is attached to a goldtone metal frame.  The interior has a change purse that fastens with a smaller scale version of the metal frame and kiss lock clasp.  The goldtone frames have light wear, consistent with their age.  The interior is lined in bright red vinyl.  There are two exterior compartments or pockets. The exterior pockets are lined in self fabric and black vinyl.

Height:  7 inches

Width:10 ½ inches at widest point

Depth:  2 ½ inches, front to back

Strap:  5/8 inch x 13 ½ inches

Drop:  5 ½ inches

Exterior Pocket:  6 ¼ inches deep x 10 inches wide at the widest point.

Change Purse:  3 ½ inches x 6 inches, at widest point

Photo 1: Front of the handbag

Photo 2: Back of the handbag

Photo 3: Bottom of the handbag, showing the light wear on the feet

Photo 4: The handbag has two (2) exterior ‘pockets’.  The outer side of the pocket is the black fabric and the inner side of the pocket is black vinyl.  The black vinyl has light wear, I did not see any holes or rips.  There is no fastener. 

Photo 5: Roomy interior.  Change purse is suspended from 2 straps. The red vinyl in good condition; no holes or splits but there is light wear and small scratches.  The red vinyl is a true red and not the orangey tone shown in the picture.  No additional interior pockets. 

Photo 6: Interior of the change purse and JR Florida, USA stamp

Photo 7:  Ink marks.  That’s the kiss lock closure on the change purse for scale.

Photo 8:  Ink marks.  You can see the ink streaks from Photo 7 and down to the right are 2 inks smudges

Photo 9:  Ink marks.  This is the upper right corner of the change purse.

Photo 10:  Label.  Changes in color are caused by light reflecting off the vinyl 

The handbag has been wiped and aired in the Carolina sun. 

All handbags are vintage items and sold…AS IS.  Although I maintain a smoke-free and a pet-free studio, I have no control over where items have been previously.  I attempt to represent my goods as honestly as possible, but sometimes something will get by.  If you have any doubts about an item, E-MAIL ME!  I want to make sure that you will be pleased with your purchase.