I do think there are some 30's fabrics in there, but you do have to date according to the youngest fabrics. There were fabrics in the 30's which always reminded me of the prints in my dad's boxers shorts, lol. They were not the typical pastel prints you think of when you think of 30's and 40's fabrics. In this quilt, specifically, they are the rust print in the top photo and the matching blue and green prints in the second photo that I think may be older fabrics.

I spent a number of years collecting vintage fabric and feel I have a pretty good ideas on dating. Historically, I've considered those little medallion prints as being earlier but I recently found this piece that actually had selvedge information! The company name used was founded in 1952.

Scale is often a good way of telling things, the 30s prints tended to be smaller than the same basic designs used in the 50s for example.

edit -- that's a quarter in the picture for reference.

edit 2 -- the size and scatter of the polka dots looks more 60s to me than earlier, but it is so hard to date dots! I'm thinking the green is a pretty modern dye though.

A friend who was in her late 70s had blocks and fabrics from her mother and grandmother. Every year she completed a quilt top from those close to her heart relics, then entered the quilt in the County Fair. That pattern was her favorite and she pieced most of the blocks by hand. All the quilting was done by her hand.
I probably have in my stash some fabric that is older than what is in your new found quilt. My friend has been gone almost 10 years.

Good point, SBG

There are a couple of books out there for dating fabrics, Dating Fabrics 1800-1960 and Dating Fabrics 1950 - 2000. Both are by Eileen Trestain and are available from Amazon. Your local library may have copies. Maybe these books can help with dating the quilt.

Great quilt and well worth the $45. Enjoy it, regardless of it's age!

What a lovely way to end my evening. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. It’s good to hear from so many people with experience. I might invest in those books. I quilt myself (not well, btw), but I also find so many sewing supplies and fabric in thrift stores that I can’t bear to leave behind. I think the info would be really helpful. Ironically enough, I posted another thread under vintage machine parts and after that, I decided I also needed to know more about buttons. So I ordered a book about buttons!
And good common sense rule about the “youngest” fabric. If I get a chance, I will post pix of another quilt I “rescued” years ago. Another random find, but I love it because the seamstress used basically what looked like every bit of old clothing etc they had. It taught me that you really need to use what you have sometimes. These were the original up-cyclers!

Dating Fabrics Books
 

Both of these books are wonderful resources! If you don't want to purchase the books, check your local library. Ours carries both of them. :-)

I think whoever made this quilt had fabric saved from several years. I see some of it from the 30's 40's and 50's. It looks like it was a scrap quilt or made from old clothes.

I think you might have a good range of years that this quilt is from. I think it is gorgeous no matter what year it was made and it will be wonderful treasure for you. Enjoy

I like your old quilt and I'm glad you've given it a new home, and I have no idea how old it is, but like me, I'm sure it's earned all its wrinkles.