Wow! It's nice to see a high-end, rare item on Ebay these days. Seeing this, although I don't collect JOL lanterns, was like finding a diamond where I've grown used to seeing nothing but cubic zirconias. Three bidders duked it out near the ending price, so this result seems sustainable. I would say that the size and heaviness of the material contributed substantially to the stellar result, with a nudge upward for the seemingly vintage inserts. Nice!
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
5 New Old Stock Bagged Vintage Halloween Decorations. Cats, Witch and Scarecrow!
This assortment consists of designs originally conceived by Beistle but later copied by the Japanese. Whether this copying was done with Beistle's cooperation, or even knowledge, is not known. These copies were done in the latter half of the 1960s and have very modest value as the ending price for this lot was $49.95. The older originals, clearly marked "Made in USA," have greater value.
Vintage Antique Cast Iron Metal Bobble Head Bat HALLOWEEN Black & Orange Spooky!
The seller describes this in his header as "vintage" but then doesn't define the term. Let me help: this is only vintage if you consider something made as long as 5-7 years ago and possibly as recently as yesterday vintage. This fantasy piece has zero collectible value and quite a modest decorative value, facts surely to cause disappointment to the seller who lists this at $542.50 or BO. Keep dreaming!
PAPERBACK BOOK HOLIDAYS TOYS & DECORATIONS PICS VINTAGE HALLOWEEN
I believe this to be the first book published that showed a selection of high-end vintage Halloween items. First available in 1985, no doubt many of these treasures have now been dispersed into other collections. Although the book profiles artifacts from all the major holidays, it is still a worthwhile addition to any collector's reference library, although this particular copy is a bit rough.
06/18 Update: This well-loved book brought $37.99, a surprising amount.
SCARCE Vintage Halloween Jack o Lantern Pirate Diecut Decoration, Germany 1920s
Whomever the buyer was got a deal on this 1920s German diecut. One identical to this can be found on page 180 of my newly published third edition of Vintage Halloween Collectibles. Order a copy right here on this site.
VTG EMPIRE HALLOWEEN PLASTIC LIGHT UP HAUNTED HOUSE
I think this is my favorite blow-mold of all of them. The design is quirky and tries to impart a real feeling of skewed perspective. Empire Plastics did a great job rendering this haunted house as it does convey a spooky feel. This design, as well as several others, can be found on pages 108 and 109 of my new third edition.
Vintage Brach's Trick or Treat Candy Halloween Haunted House Display Box
Until now I didn't know that Brach's made this cleverly designed candy box in a different iteration. The one in my collection holds 55 "paks" with a net weight of 21 ounces. This variant holds 70 "paks" with a net weight of 22.5 ounces. The graphics are otherwise identical. Since the indicated measurements for the box up for auction are identical to the one in my collection, I suspect Brach's had made each "pak" smaller so that more could fit into the same box space. I think it is reasonable to conclude this variant is a season or two later than the 55 "pak" example.
06/16 Update: This rare and very cool candy box brought $84 even with the slight damage.
SNAGGLE TOOTHED WITCH DIECUT ORNAMENT WITH BATS and BLACK CATS
Beistle made this great witch head diecut for many years on-and-off beginning in 1932. Even though these surface frequently, they seldom do so in such clean and collectible condition. Given this, I feel the buyer snapped up a true bargain at a mere $37.12, about half of what I consider fair market value. Congrats!
THREE 1930'S GERMAN MADE NOISEMAKERS ON STICKS WITH SQUEAKERS ON BACK THAT WORK
These noisemakers are modern fantasy pieces made in the mid-1990s and imported into the US from Germany by Blumchen's. They have zero collectible value.
HALLOWEEN ORNAMENT, GHOST SCARING DO WITH JACK'O'LANTERN
This exceedingly rare diecut was issued by Beistle in the 1940s and was packaged in varying assortments for a solid decade. Yet, it rarely surfaces - an oddity I've noted with other Beistle diecuts like the elusive "skeleton in the graveyard" that I discuss on page 137. I am not surprised that it fetched such strong dollars even in its less than mint condition. I like the energy the scene conveys!
Antique Meow German Die Cut BLACK CAT HALLOWEEN KITTY Back Arched Decoration
This seller seems to know very little about vintage Halloween, which is fair in and of itself. However, offering this as a BIN at $289.95 means that you and I will be inflicted with seeing this over and over and over again on Ebay! I assess fair market price for this diecut to be $50.
Vintage Antique Plaster Composite Halloween Devil Man Figurine SIGNED Germany
This looks to be a vintage candy container in quite nice condition, aside form the few paint flecks to the side of a horn. The Germans made a set of these figures all standing on a stump. (To see a Veggie man example, see the lower right of page 77.) The devil head was also molded in the same way but to a different body. (To see this, turn to page 63.) The seller gets the date of manufacture wrong. These candy containers date to the 1920s. I feel the BIN price reflects full value plus for this item.
PUMPKIN HEAD GIRL HALLOWEEN GAME PIECE die/cut CARDBOARD STANDUP c1920 Germany
This is one of ten pieces made for a boxed skittles game imported from Germany in the early 1920s. Each is made from lightly embossed heavy cardboard slotted into a wood base. An entire set can be seen on page 26 of my new third edition.
Vintage Halloween Double Sided Cardboard Witch Lantern Paper Face USA 1940s
This lantern's ending price far exceeded what it typically fetches, probably due to its seemingly near-mint condition. As I write on page 30 of my new 3rd edition, "This lantern is devilishly difficult to find in near-mint condition. The mystery manufacturer didn't have a solid grasp on coloration as I have seen examples where the faces range from a bright green to a deep olive."
RARE very early 1900's Halloween Invitation Ghost Jack O Lantern
This superbly designed invitation has long eluded my grasp. I just returned from a vacation in Kansas during which time it slipped my mind to bid. Made by Dennison, it first appeared for sale in their 1916 Bogie Book, sold with a stock number of H-27.
