Marie Wilson’s Victory Purse

During World War II Fashion supported the war effort with "V for Victory" fashions. This "V for Victory" purse from 1942 was personally owned by actress Marie Wilson (on the left in the above picture from "A Girl in Every Port"). The purse is navy blue woven straw with a victory eagle made of red, white and blue bugle beads. Beads also compose the three dots and dash - Morse Code for the letter "V." The purse was owned and carried by Marie Wilson. It was then owned by Mary Pickford and finally owned by Debbie Reynolds. It was auctioned on May 17, 2014 and sold for $1,200. Photo courtesy of Profiles in History.