Authenticate This COACH - **see first post for format**

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#47,869
IMPORTANT READ-ME

Please post authenticity questions related to COACH in this thread. No PMs please.
For further information, please refer to the first post on page 1 of this thread.

Please follow the following requests:
  • Before you submit a request for authentication, please search this thread to make sure that the item has not previously been authenticated by searching the seller ID and/or item number. This is not a thread to ask general questions about COACH, please refer to our main Coach forum for such information.
  • Note that authenticators have the right to refuse any requests. This is a free service, but it is imperative that you help our authenticators by using the following format:
  • FOR ITEMS LISTED ONLINE:
    Item:
    Listing number:
    Seller and site where listed
    Link:
    Comments:

  • FOR ITEMS NOT LISTED ONLINE:
    Item:
    Where purchased or how obtained
    Comments:
BASIC PICTURES REQUIRED (but more may be requested): If necessary pictures are in the listing, it's not necessary to upload and duplicate them.
  • Front of item
  • Back of item
  • Full clear and legible creed text and serial number
  • Made in tags (when available)
  • Measurements
  • For bags with turnlock closures, show pictures of back of female side of turnlock
  • For bags with magnetic snaps, show pictures of the male part of the snap so that the numbers and letters on it can be read
  • If applicable, search interior of bag and/or pockets for small white tag with production information and include a picture of that.
Thank you and be safe!
 
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#16,651
Catbird9 said:
Seller: rnbsales814
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Bonni...628855?hash=item2a6f1a6b77:g:cD8AAOSwwo1XfoPS
Click to expand...

lmgriffiths said:
This seller shill bid me on this item twice. Buyer beware...
Click to expand...
I'm a bit concerned with your allegation. Why do you say that?

There are a couple of previous listings (with bids) for that bag. This is this one with only 2 bidders, neither of which is a shill:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Bonnie-Cashin-Shoulder-Bag-Vintage-/182229916676?hash=item2a6dbfdc04:g:cD8AAOSwwo1XfoPS&nma=true&si=HYccTfWv5OQJb%2BZqMZgbBqlf9VE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

And this one with 2 bidders, neither a shill:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Shoulder-Bag-Vintage-/182209039796?hash=item2a6c814db4:g:cD8AAOSwwo1XfoPS&nma=true&si=HYccTfWv5OQJb%2BZqMZgbBqlf9VE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This was was unsold and without any bids:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Bonnie-Cashin-Shoulder-Bag-Vintage-/182218667384?hash=item2a6d143578:g:cD8AAOSwwo1XfoPS&nma=true&si=PTbxQpAX8oKWOE8gf8uwsDMr%2Fgg%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I've seen many auction listings and many with an without shill bidding. None of this seller's listings show any evidence of shill bidding.
 
#16,652
RL Bernstein said:
Still dubious. If that's a "B4D" in the number, then that's a strange location for the "o" in the "No.". But I'll defer to the experts.
Click to expand...

That's what it looks like to me too, now that a slightly better creed pic has been posted. I thought the first 3 digits were numbers, but they're not. The "4" year code and the bag style just don't go together. The buckle worried me too but I made the mistake of ignoring it.

The entire creed stamp seems to be the wrong shape, and the Made In line at the bottom is wrong too. I'm changing my opinion to Fake. Also all the fonts especially in the serial number look wrong, the lower third of the style number seems to be missing and is completely unreadable, and the border around the creed doesn't even touch the Coach cartouche on either side. Definitely fake.

Let's enlarge it a bit more...
Courier Bag FAKE_B4D-prefix-maybe-lg-h.jpg

Here's an A4D- serial prefix to compare, the "Leatherware" Coach logo seems to have been in use until August 1994 on the "D" plant's stamp:
1994_D-plant-A4D-9923.jpg
 
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#16,653
Hyacinth said:
That's what it looks like to me too, now that a slightly better creed pic has been posted. I thought the first 3 digits were numbers, but they're not. The "4" year code and the bag style just don't go together. The buckle worried me too but I made the mistake of ignoring it.

The entire creed stamp seems to be the wrong shape, and the Made In line at the bottom is wrong too. I'm changing my opinion to Fake. Also all the fonts especially in the serial number look wrong, the lower third of the style number seems to be missing and is completely unreadable, and the border around the creed doesn't even touch the Coach cartouche on either side. Definitely fake.

Let's enlarge it a bit more...
View attachment 3447379
Click to expand...
It's definitely nothing like this "B4D" creed photo I found (which I hope is authentic)...
B4D 1.jpg
ETA: Once upon a time I thought about organizing my Authentic versus Fake creed files, but since my interests have pretty much settled on the pre-creed era, I've lost my motivation for doing so.
 
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#16,654
RL Bernstein said:
Out of curiosity may I ask what is it? An hybrid early version of a Taft spawned by a Large Courier Pouch sometime after the late 1970s (I can't really read the creed or decipher the ident number below it)?

I'll provide that the underside of the "tongue" looks a bit odd to me. All the "tongues" I have,, the upper edge of the smooth leather backing doubler on the inside surface is cut square and terminates at the top of the parallel portion of the "tongue" (not contoured like what's shown in the photo). And what's with the corroded looking buckle? I've plenty of pre-creed bags with buckle attached adjustable straps, all of which have the lighter gauge buckles (and straps with ungrommeted holes). My 1970s bags have the more significant "solid brass" buckles. Patina and tarnish, yes. Scratches yes. But none of the buckles I've seen have looked like the one shown in this listings photos
Click to expand...

Catbird9 said:
The buckle bothered me too, but I thought it was possible it had been replaced. The slotted piece that the tongue goes through doesn't look right to me. The ones I've seen aren't stitched around the openings like that. I can't decipher the serial number so I asked the seller for a clearer photo. I'll post it if I get it.

Tongue and slots on a small Courier Pouch
Click to expand...

BINGO!

I know what it was copying, in fact I've been looking for one for years now and have only found one other one that I spotted too late. The details aren't far off but the creed is still a MESS. Here are Coach's catalog pics from the 1994 Holiday Preview and of the one I missed on Ebay - Cody Bag, 9964. And yes, RL BERNSTEIN,the result of an unholy relationship between a Taft and a Courier Pouch - one of those May-December romances that just didn't work out, i guess.
9964_Cody Bag.jpg 9964_Cody Bag-a.JPG 9964_Cody Bag-c.JPG
 
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#16,656
#16,660
#16,663
Hyacinth said:
BINGO!

I know what it was copying, in fact I've been looking for one for years now and have only found one other one that I spotted too late. The details aren't far off but the creed is still a MESS. Here are Coach's catalog pics from the 1994 Holiday Preview and of the one I missed on Ebay - Cody Bag, 9964. And yes, RL BERNSTEIN,the result of an unholy relationship between a Taft and a Courier Pouch - one of those May-December romances that just didn't work out, i guess.
View attachment 3447413 View attachment 3447414 View attachment 3447415
Click to expand...

I kind of like it (in "Acorn," no less!). Thanks for the catalog pics, it's always a pleasure to learn a new style and color!
 
#16,664
go2girl99 said:
Just curious about this listing.....GW says bag is NOT marked coach...just the luggage tag. it out of my price range anyways but curious if the bag is Coach.

http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/COACH-Weathered-Brown-Leather-Tote-WLuggage-Tag-32347096.html
Click to expand...
Wait for other opinions but I don't think it's a Coach bag. I think someone had a similarly colored Coach luggage tag they attached to a generic/non-Coach bag. (The luggage tag looks good but it doesn't make a non-Coach bag Coach!)

ETA: IMO, the description should make it clear that it's not a Coach bag and the title should be changed to "Weathered Brown Leather Tote W/COACH Luggage Tag"
 
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