VB ID: FNB-REEDLEY-LTHR-20

The First National Bank (Reedley, California) Leather Drawstring Bag

Item: Early Leather Bank Pouch
Bank: The First National Bank
City/State: Reedley, California
Approx. Era: 1900s–1910s
Material: Natural tanned leather (hand-cut)
Color: Warm chestnut brown
Markings:

• THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

• Reedley, Cal.
  Construction Details:

• Hand-stitched perimeter seam

• Scalloped top edge (distinctive early West Coast style)

• Rawhide-style leather drawstring threaded through punched holes
  Dimensions: 5 1/2″ x 7 3/4′

Category: Early Bank Bags → California Banks
Condition: Beautifully aged leather, natural patina, light handling wear consistent with age
Internal Notes: One of the earliest known California bank bags; Reedley National operated during a major agricultural boom.

Historical Background

This early leather drawstring pouch is attributed to The First National Bank of Reedley, California, an institution chartered during the explosive growth of California’s San Joaquin Valley agricultural economy in the early 20th century. Before standardized canvas and federally mandated markings became widespread, many rural Western banks sourced simple hand-stitched leather pouches like this for coin transport, teller transactions, and small-denomination deposits.

The scalloped top edge is a hallmark of West Coast bank leatherwork from the 1900–1915 period. This style allowed easier cinching of the drawstring and reduced tearing in high-use environments. The punch-hole drawstring channel and rawhide-style cord reflect hand-crafted production common in small regional supply shops before large-scale industrial suppliers dominated the market after World War I.

Reedley’s banks served farm communities involved in citrus, grapes, and raisin production—businesses that handled significant volumes of coin due to labor payments and crop-handling. Leather bags like this were practical for daily use, durable against moisture and dust, and were often reused until worn through. Few examples survived due to the degradability of early leather, making this an exceptionally desirable artifact.

Because the stamped version of this bag is known from Reedley’s First National Bank (as shown in the comparison image), your unmarked version is understood to be from the same production series, likely a teller or internal-use variant that was not factory-stamped.

 rare surviving artifact from California’s Central Valley banking era. This genuine leather drawstring money bag is stamped in bold black type:

“THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK – Reedley, Cal.”

Crafted in durable, top-grain leather with a corded closure, the bag reflects the utilitarian elegance of early 20th-century bank supplies, designed for secure cash or coin transport long before armored trucks and plastic zippers.

Reedley’s banking history dates to 1910, when the community’s national bank (charter #9688) served the agricultural hub of Fresno County. By the late 1920s, following mergers and consolidations common in the Depression era, the “First National Bank” name disappeared, making pieces like this a tangible remnant of small-town American banking.

The bag’s size, wear, and craftsmanship align with transitional styles of the late 1920s to early 1930s, a period when many banks shifted from heavy leather to lighter canvas and printed logos. Surviving examples in this condition are scarce, especially from rural California institutions.

History of THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK – Reedley, Cal.

Archival Note:
This piece represents the agricultural and financial heritage of Reedley’s early banking years—an evocative example of craftsmanship from an era when every transaction passed through a teller’s hands.

Estimated value (retail to a collector): $120–$220

• $220-$300 if leather is supple, stamp is crisp, and drawstring intact with no tears.

• $70-$120 if the leather is dry/cracked, stamp faint, or stitching issues.

Auction/wholesale expectation: $80-$150 (dealers need margin; outcomes vary with photos and audience size).