Hi Paula!
I really appreciate and enjoyed learning about D&B bags looking at your site. It is very helpful and informative, thank you!
I am writing because I recently purchased a bag which appears to be a Medium Double Pocket Outback bag. I got it for a song so am of course skeptical. I am no bag expert but with the help of your site I was able to deduce the name of the bag. I also compared it to the checklists for authenticity and it came out pretty well. I do not have the fob but the accents (brass, stitching, etc.) and material seem correct. The ducks eye has a rather small looking pupil though, and I the interior pockets (there are the correct number of them) are not made of leather. The interior zipper pull is Talon brand as well, not the ‘riri’. The interior sticker says R35 ST 80394346 and the bag is tan on tan.
I would very much appreciate any help you could offer at authenticating the bag. I think its a real stumper!
Sasha
The easiest and surest way to verify you have a bona fide dooney is to look inside. All Dooney handbags come with a tag sewn inside the bag. On one side, the tag will say, 'Dooney and Bourke',. May 29, 2012 Look for signature items. Dooney & Bourke handbags often have a rainbow zipper, knotted handles, tassels or looped leather straps. In addition, there should be a small or medium-sized Dooney & Bourke duck logo on the bag. Dooney & Bourke bags sold for between $200-$380 in the 1980s and 1990s which invited knock offs and fakes to flood the market. But it only takes a few seconds to spot the difference in materials, workmanship and feel of the great Dooney & Bourke handbags, briefcases, totes, wallets and other items in the All Weather Collection.
Paula,
Thank you for taking the time to look at this bag. Please let me know if additional pictures would help you discern the bag’s quality. I bought this bag at a thrift store and am hoping that I found an amazing deal. Thanks again!!
You did good girl !! This is indeed authentic and a highly coveted model plus it is in a color that usually shows its wear – yours looks in pretty darn good shape.
You wondered about the interior pockets – you thought they should be made of leather. Actually most Dooneys have this type of snap, zip, credit card pocket combos and they are made from a Dooney & Bourke proprietary fabric-backed vinyl with a grain texture to look like leather. So you are OK there.
How To Verify A Dooney And Bourke Serial Number
The riri zipper is only on certain models – your zipper for your interior pocket is fine.
The fact that the fob is missing is not such a big deal. What’s great is that the tag is there and unsnipped. And it still has the sticker on the back side of the pocket.
The R35 is the model number and the ST stands for Saddle Tan. At first when you look at your bag you might think “All British Tan” but on closer examination, you can see that the British Tan Trim is a lighter color than the AWL of the main body of the purse. So your bag has the R designation which means a color of AWL (in this case Saddle Tan) with British Tan trim.
Here’s a similar bag we sold that you can click on to see all the specs.
Dooney And Bourke Serial Number J1005028
There was a line of 6 Outback bags, each with the characteristic molded front pocket (or pockets) and the turned solid brass toggle and braided leather cord loop. Here is the R34 Medium Single Pocket.
Dooney And Bourke Serial Number Juul
Enjoy your great find !! Paula