Rare Betty Boop handbag given to local Goodwill

Fashion designer wants Betty Boop bag found at area Goodwill

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This Betty Boop purse handcrafted by designer Kathrine Baumann is being auctioned off on E-Bay to benefit Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley.

By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer Updated 4:53 PM Friday, July 10, 2009

DAYTON — You never know what’s gonna show up as a Goodwill donation.

“People donate everything from antiques to upscale items with original price tags still on them,” says Mari Jo Sellers, marketing/communications specialist for Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley.

It was early spring when Betty Boop showed up at the organization’s Dorothy Lane store in Kettering. The jewel-encrusted purse features the animated character’s signature black hair, pink cheeks and red lips.

“Someone recognized right away that this purse was very unique,” says Sellers.

“We have a process whereby anything deemed valuable or collectable is sent to headquarters and processed there. Most of those items go to shopgoodwill.com but because the purse had a collector’s number on it, we decided to harness the power of eBay.”

The collectible purse turned out to be handcrafted minaudiere (small purse) by Kathrine Baumann Beverly Hills, number 480 of only 2,500.

The popular designer, whose accessories sell for thousands, is originally from Independence, Ohio, and has created custom pieces for celebrities ranging from Madonna to Cher. According to her web site, fans include Brooke Shields, Christina Applegate, Paula Abdul, Mariah Carey, Helen Mirren, Patti LaBelle, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Aniston and even the late Princess Diana.

The whimsical Betty Boop purse went up today on eBay, item number 170356357806, and will be available for 10 days. Boop-Oop-A-Doop.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or MMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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