I) Vintage Suitcases
1. Norwegian Document Case
Era: 1800s-1900s
Material Wood & leather
Color: Brown
Price: $220
This document suitcase is from Norway, handmade in the late 1800s or early 1900s. It has a wood body with some wear/patina, leather handles, and an operational lock-and-key.
2. Woven Wicker Case
Era: 19th century
Material Wicker, brass, & leather
Color: Tan
Price: $135
The leather straps are by and large missing, with an antique belt replacing the original handle. But the wicker is tightly woven and in good condition! The interior is fabric-lined, it shows some staining.
3. Wooden Small Luggage
Era: 1920s
Material Wood
Color: Brown & white
Price: $95
A small handheld traveling case for the light traveler … or the overnighter. This case is understandably worn but in good condition for being nearly a hundred.
4. Straw Suitcase
Era: 1930s
Material Straw & leather
Color: Tan
Price: $120
Beautifully woven straw covers the exterior of this vintage suitcase. It has been well used and shows a bit more wear than some similarly aged pieces, however it retains its original appeal.
5. Gator Leather Case
Era: 1940s
Material Leather & metal
Color: Brown
Price: $78
Gator-patterned leather covers the exterior of this 1940s piece. The leather is well-worn, with some frayed seems. The interior is in good condition, no keys.
6. Hollywood Luggage Multnomah
Era: 1940s
Material Canvas, Leather, & Fabric
Color: Tan & Cream
Price: $80
A classy striped piece with leather-reinforced corners. This piece shows a bit of wear, including some surface staining on the exterior canvas. But all in all, it’s looking grand for its age!
7. Leather Train Trunk
Era: 1950s
Material Leather
Color: Brown
Price: $225
This classy leather case is in good condition, a bit of wear that adds character to the leather. This piece features Spanish travel stickers on the exterior.
8. Red Metal-Plated
Era: 1950s
Material Cardboard, fabric, & metal
Color: Red
Price: $55
This is a cardboard suitcase, covered in fabric and plated with metal around the corners—per the typical ‘50s construction. It is in fine condition, plenty of wear but functional. There is a travel sticker inside the lid.
9. Samsonite Carmel Brown
Era: 1950s
Material Vinyl & metal
Color: Carmel Brown
Price: $47
This suitcase features clothes keepers inside to help keep your clothes looking smooth despite folding. The case shows very little wear and is quite clean.
II) Vintage Suitcases with Wheels
1. ‘20s Metal Box Suitcase
Era: 1920s
Material Metal & paint
Color: Green
Price: $130
Travel in … some sort of style … with this heavy-duty metal box of a suitcase! It is a bit rusted on the exterior surface, but the inside looks to be in good condition. No worries, you don’t have to carry this hunk, it rolls.
2. Amelia Earhart Suitcase
Era: 1934-40s
Material Plastic, vinyl, & metal
Color: Green, red, yellow, & black
Price: $92
This piece is in excellent condition, with a functioning number lock and an early rolling system.
3. Skyway Tweed
Era: 1960s
Material Tweed
Color: Gray
Price: $185
This set of two bags features a smaller bag with no rollers that clips on to a larger rolling case. They are pre-owned but in excellent condition with no noticeable wear (in the pictures at least).
4. US Luggage Roll-Away
Era: 1970s
Material Vinyl, plastic, & metal
Color: Blue
Price: $70
US Luggage claims the first patent for rolling luggage, but they only produced rolling luggage during the 1970s, before refocusing solely on leather cases in the ‘80s. (They started luggage lines again in 2000.) On this piece, one of the wheels is a bit funky and there is a popped seam, but otherwise only minor wear.
5. Hartmann Carry-on
Era: pre-2000
Material Nylon & leather
Color: Tan
Price: $120
This is a vintage take on a modern look, easy and sleek with roller wheels and a handle. It is in good condition and comes replete with matching garment bags & hangers.
III) Vintage Carry-ons or Cabin Luggage
1. Luce Leather Train Case
Era: 1940s
Material Leather & metal
Color: Black
Price: $48
This is a vintage take on a modern look, easy and sleek with roller wheels and a handle. It is in good condition and comes replete with matching garment bags & hangers.
2. Metal Doll Trunk
Era: 1950s
Material Metal
Color: Blue
Price: $125
This is a smaller trunk with a collection of travel stickers from the 1950s on the exterior. It was possible a doll trunk, the exterior shows wear but there is only minor wear internally.
3. Sky King Train Case
Era: 1960s
Material Plastic & Fabric
Color: White & Yellow
Price: $30
This is a charming little case designed to be taken on railroad trips. The functional latch will keep it securely closed. Don’t miss the ruffle lining inside the lid!
4. Samsonite Decoupaged
Era: 1960s
Material Vinyl, metal, & plastic
Color: Buttercream
Price: $59
This is a Samsonite piece turned craft project, it has been decoupaged with Victorian-style artwork. One of the latches are missing, but the piece is in good shape for its age.
5. Boyle Blue Train Case
Era: 1960s
Material Plastic, vinyl, & fabric
Color: Blue
Price: $60
A lovely miniature box—it includes a mirror inside the lid and plush blue fabric lining. It is in excellent condition inside and out, besides regular wear and tear.
6. Starline 16” Square
Era: 1960s
Material Metal, plastic, vinyl, nylon, & wood
Color: White
Price: $80
A Starline brand from Baltimore Luggage Co. piece, designed as part of a stacking luggage set. This one is large enough for an overnight trip or a fancy hat.
IV) Retro Travel Suitcases
1. Samsonite Silhouette
Era: 1958-60s
Material Plastic & fabric
Color: Red
Price: $45
The Samsonite Silhouette line was introduced in 1958 and is still in production today—although the look has changed over time. This piece is in good condition with minimal wear and no overall damage, plus the key is included!
2. Emerald Stacking Case
Era: 1960s
Material Plastic, cloth, & vinyl
Color: Emerald
Price: $58
A bit of surface wear on this one, but on the up side: it still has a key! The interior fabrics look to be in good shape as well.
3. Red & White Hard-shell
Era: 1960s
Material Metal, plastic, & acrylic
Color: Red & White
Price: $22
A cute metal-reinforced box for whatever your traveling needs require. This box has a clasp system still in good condition, nothing mentioned about the central key.
4. Samsonite White
Era: 1960s
Material Silk, vinyl, metal, & plastic
Color: White
Price: $46
With a hard plastic shell and functioning clasps, this Samsonite piece is ready to travel wherever you want. The interior fabrics are in good shape too.
5. Airways Inc. Soft Suitcase
Era: 1960s-70s
Material Vinyl & cloth
Color: Grey, brown, & green
Price: $28
A soft-case suitcase from the late 20th-century, in excellent condition except a split in the interior edging.
6. Groovy Floral Bag
Era: 1960s-70s
Material Fabric & vinyl
Color: Oranges, reds, & greens
Price: $88
Bright and colorful, this bag would be easy to find in any baggage claim! It is in fairly good condition, except a busted zipper that needs repair.
7. Gucci Leather
Era: 1970s
Material Leather & fabric
Color: Brown, beige, red, & green
Price: $800
This leather soft suitcase glows with ‘70s style & Gucci quality. It is in excellent condition and ready to travel!
8. Sarne Suitcase
Era: 1970s
Material Metal, plastic, & cloth
Color: Blues, greens, & browns
Price: $29
A 1970s tropics design from the Japanese brand Sarne. In excellent condition, no obvious staining and only one mild split along the back seam inside.
V) Vintage Hard-shell Luggage
1. Industrial Luggage
Era: 1940s
Material Metal & leather
Color: Black
Price: $80
The quintessential early 20th-century styling on this piece is very charming. It does show enough wear that it is either best for display or a project piece. The interior is unlined.
2. Hartmann Art Deco
Era: 1940s
Material Leather & fabric
Color: Brown
Price: $45
The Art Deco lines on this luggage case transport the travel straight back to the 1940s! This piece is in good condition, the clasps hold (one has to be manually released) and the interior elastic is still springy. It might need some airing out before use.
3. “Gator” Edging Case
Era: 1940s
Material Vinyl & Canvas
Color: Brown
Price: $60
This case is rocking some “gator”-style leather (or vinyl) edging against a brown fabric covering. The handle and clasps work appropriately but there are no keys included.
4. Burnt Orange Hard Shell
Era: 1940s
Material Plastic & leather
Color: Burnt orange
Price: $75
This is a lovely color of burnt orange, with neat stitching around the edges. It shows limited wear and no noticeable staining.
5. MCM Lady Baltimore
Era: 1950s
Material Wood, fabric, paper, & metal
Color: Blue
Price: $86
A lovely blue box in near-excellent condition, except for some staining inside.
6. Friedberg-Grunaur Co. Travelaire
Era: 1950s
Material Canvas, wood, & leather
Color: Yellow & teal
Price: $40
This brand has disappeared into history with only trademark & business license filings in the early 1950s to date it. This piece is, per the tag, a custom design. One handle is breaking, but the piece is otherwise in good condition.
7. Vintage Blue
Era: 1950s
Material Plastic, vinyl, & metal
Color: Blue
Price: $69
With a blue exterior, this hard-shell suitcase will be easy to keep track of. There is some wear, but overall in good condition.
8. Koch Aviation Case
Era: 1950s
Material Fabric, plastic, & acrylic
Color: Tan & Yellow
Price: $55
This charming hardshell from the 1950s is in good condition with minimal odor. The latches close securely but the release mechanisms doesn’t function, the latches have to be pulled (the keys are also missing).
9. Towncraft Hard-shell
Era: 1950s-60s
Material Plastic & Fabric
Color: Blue
Price: $78
This Penny’s Towncraft hard-shell is in good condition, appearing to have been only minimally used.
VI) Vintage Trunk Suitcases
1. Bentwood Trunk
Era: 19th century
Material Bentwood & leather
Color: Brown
Price: $585
A steamer trunk constructed in a bentwood fashion—referencing the rails around the trunk body—is a rarity. This one in in good condition, although some straps would require replacing and the clasps needed to be fixed for it to be fully fuctional.
2. Late 19th-Century Steamer Trunk
Era: Late 1800s-1910
Material Wood, leather, & metal
Color: Brown
Price: $650
This beautiful wooden steamer trunk was originally covered with canvas, the wood has been stained since. The leather is all original, and everything has been carefully cleaned and upkept to keep this piece pristine.
3. Knights Templar Trunk
Era: 1910s
Material Leather, wood, hardboard, fabric, & metal
Color: Brown
Price: $240
This trunk’s story is identifiable by an imprinted name & location—the property of a Knights Templar from Cleveland, Ohio. The trunk is in excellent condition for its age, albeit some missing leather and discoloration.
4. P&S Holds-All Wardrobe Trunk
Era: 1910s
Material Wood, metal, leather, & fabric
Color: Black & brown
Price: $250
This is a large wardrobe-style trunk, meaning it is meant to stand on end when opened to give access to drawers on one side and hanging space on the other. It is in functional condition.
5. Vulcanized Train Trunk
Era: 1920s
Material Hard Fibre, metal, & leather
Color: Black
Price: $130
This is a large trunk, designed for storage during the train ride rather than the train cases intended for cabin use. It is well-worn, with interior staining & leather wear. A good dusting should help immensely.
6. English Cabin Trunk
Era: 1930s
Material Wood, brass, & leather
Color: Brown
Price: $1284
High-quality leather incases this very traditional-looking cabin trunk. A cabin trunk is designed as a carry-on, so this is smaller than a steamer trunk. It is in good condition, with just the typical wear of a near-century-old item.
7. Vintage Story Trunks
Era: 1930s
Material Wood & metal
Color: Green & red
Price: $188 & $578
These two trunks were found together; they seem to have a connected story about lovers separated by WWII—visit the listing to find out more! They are both in good condition, with a collection of travel memorabilia on the exteriors, from travel identification to location stickers.
VII) Vintage Hatboxes or Round Luggage
1. Amelia Earhart Round Luggage
Era: 1933-50s
Material Patent leather & metal
Color: Cream
Price: $145
Another piece from the famous aviator’s brand, this round box is in great condition. Even the zipper operates well for its age.
2. Leather Hatbox
Era: 1930s
Material Leather
Color: Blue & brown
Price: $215
A bit scuffed up around the edges, this hatbox has traveled far and yet is nonetheless in good condition for its age.
3. Blue Hatbox
Era: 1940s
Material Vinyl, fabric, & metal
Color: Blue
Price: $150
This cute blue vinyl hatbox is a great retro way to store or carry circular items. It does have staining inside, but the exterior is only mildly scuffed up.
4. Samsonite Round Suitcase
Era: 1950s
Material Fabric & metal
Color: Beige
Price: $150
Unusual for the round boxes on this list, this one sports a brand name: Samsonite … of course. It is in excellent condition, one water stain inside & minor denting on the exterior is it.
5. Plaid Round
Era: 1960s
Material Fabric
Color: Green, red, & white
Price: $35
This suitcase has seen use, it’s a bit more scraped up on the exterior edges. The latch is functional, but no key.
6. Black Leather-Lined Hatbox
Era: Unknown
Material Vinyl, plastic, leather, & metal
Color: Black
Price: $244
The exact era on this box is unclear, but it has been around long enough to travel, amassing a few dents and rubs on the exterior. The interior is in good condition, featuring pockets on the lid and ribbons to tie down hats.
Vintage Luggage Brands
Amelia Earhart
In 1933, Amelia Earhart instigated something that was a rarity at the time: product endorsements and a personal brand. Her luggage line ran until well after her tragic disappearance… until about 1950.
Hartmann
Started in 1877 and still in operation, Hartmann is a long-time mainstay of the luggage industry.
Towncraft
The Towncraft line was sold at Penny’s (J.C. Penny’s today) through the ‘50s & ‘60s in color schemes ranging from orange to cream to blue—the popular and convenient luggage line of the decades.
Samsonite
The luggage industry’s doll, Samsonite started in Denver, CO in March 1910. With only $3,500 and ten employees, founder Jesse Shwayder nonetheless built a company that continued to innovate throughout the century and is still a best-selling brand today.
US Luggage
Started as United States Trunk Co. in 1911, the company changed its name in the ‘50s. In the ‘80s, they merged with London Leather (started in the 40s) and have remained pertinent in the industry, especially focused on high-end leather cases.
What to Look For When Buying Vintage Luggage?
It is a rarity rather than a given that the brand name is clearly identifiable on vintage luggage, so here are a few tips on finding quality pieces visually:
- Exterior wear: What condition is the external fabric, wood, and/or leather covering in?
- Handles & clasps: Are the handles and clasps functional or are they worn-out, at risk of breaking if the case is used for its original intent?
- Interior condition: Is there a large amount of staining? Are your items going to be protected and odor-free inside the case? (Drops here and there are typical, but large patches aren’t such a good sign.)
