Many people have heard the four-character idiom “continuity and change.” It was coined by that famed Edo-period haiku poet Matsuo Bassho to describe the ideals of his art. The “continuity” part refers to being unchanging, specifically in the way that it is important that haiku remain consistent over time, while the second part is advocates the need for change and brining in new elements. When you think about it, it’s a saying that can be applied to a great many things.
Perhaps a familiar and common example would be the way people assume that old restaurants with popular dishes that seem like they have always been made the same way often find out upon further inquiry that there have actually been slight changes to the recipe over the years. The point is that the world is composed of things that shouldn’t change and things that have to change. Wallets don’t necessarily have to be leather, but the fact that many people prefer wallets made with that material may be the component that shouldn’t change.

Our featured item this time is a bifold wallet. Opening it up reveals a straightforward design with three card slots, a coin pocket with flap and two compartments for bills. Surprisingly enough, this style of wallet appeared in the 1950s. The design had never existed before and only came about because of changes in the times as credit cards came into prominence. Perhaps this history is part of the reason they retain such universal appeal today.