The Counterfeit Mailbag (No. J1005). Containing one vast, unzippered pocket, and another zippered. Shoulder strap and handle. Nickel hardware. Strong, soft leather that will only get better. Imported.

Size: 14.5 long x 12.5 tall with a 4.5″ depth at top opening and a 7.5″ depth at the base.

Weight: 3.15 lbs. empty

Material: 100% leather

Details: Front flap: 14.5″ wide x 12 tall
Zipper pocket: 12.5 wide x 12″ deep
Shoulder strap: 1″ wide, adjustable for 26″ to 39″ length

How to take care of the Mailbag.

The first scratch will kill you, but in fact, its the first step in the right direction: patina.

So the sooner it gets scratched, nicked, bumped, dug, hit, squeezed, dropped, bent, folded, and rained on, the better. Really.

When you receive your mailbag, its so fiercely new looking Im almost ashamed of it. But theres no choice. It would cost too much to pre-age each mailbag before sending it out to a customer. (Antiques cost more than new, for a reason.)

Heres my recipe for accelerating the aging process. First, spend one day (the day you get it) the way it is. Brand new. Then, the next day, scratch it all over with your fingernails. Lightly. This will horrify you, at first. Then, spray-mist it with plain water, lightly. Let it dry. The scratches will lose their rawness. They will look old. Repeat this treatment as often as you can stand to; once a week for 5 weeks. Then once a year. (Clean mailbag with plain water only. Not petrochemicals, not oils, not detergents, not mystery solvents, not leather cremes. It will do just fine with plain water and will outlast both of us.)