Mail pouch

c. 1880

The thick, leather pouches used during the nineteenth century were watertight and durable. They withstood repeated use and weighty contents. Mailbags like this were typically used on stagecoach lines and other Star Routes. The pouches remained locked while in transit to secure the contents. The padlock, however, did not always deter crime; the slit in this pouch is reputed to have been made during a robbery.