Imagine you came across a vintage alligator handbag somewhere in an antique shop. A lot of questions may start popping up in your head. Is it valuable? Will it hold and not fall apart on me when I start carrying it? Unfortunately, not every old bag is original vintage. Even fewer are considered valuable collectibles. So often they are dreadful and not worth the investment. And, because the value of vintage exotic skin handbags depends on several factors, such as brand, quality, craftsmanship and condition, some of them are worth thousands, and others – only pennies. That is why it is important to understand the difference and preferably invest in the best. Included in the list are the premier mid-century American and global brands that specialized in exotic skin handbags, which in the 1930s-1960s were sold by upscale U.S. department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and others. The choice of the selected brands was determined based on the level of their popularity reflected by the period advertisement in the premium fashion periodicals and magazines, including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.  Check out our list of Top 20 heritage designer brands to learn how to invest in the best!