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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Two Vintage Halloween Cardboard Accordion Cat And Pumpkin Lanterns

These items, devoid of any semblance to truly vintage items, are not memorable. One of the sure-fire ways to identify these as newly made, aside from the vacant expressions, is the presence of glitter, the bane of all civilized people. (As an aside, I dislike glitter so much that I open all Christmas cards right over a large garbage can in my garage. If glitter is detected, into the can they go.) Naturally, these two things are probably not even worth the opening bid of $9.99. 

1920 Dennison's Bogie Book Witch, Ghost, Goblin cover, halloween costumes, party favors, decorations great halloween illustrations

I've begun looking on Etsy.com for vintage Halloween items and came across this gem. This is a 1920 Dennison Bogie Book, one of the more difficult issues to find in more than fair condition. The one in the collection is the rattiest by far of my Bogies, of which I am missing only the oh-so-elusive 1913 edition. Given that fact, I toyed with the idea of acquiring this one, but decided to hold out for a better copy. (I may regret this as I've been holding out to upgrade the 1920 edition for so many years, that perhaps the next time I see one I'll be eligible to collect Social Security.) The seller, puffadonna, indicates that for orders above $75, she'll offer a discount. She has priced this Bogie at $300, so I'm confident that it can be had for less. 

Antique 1930's German Die Cut Halloween Diadem ( Tiara) w/ Original Bag

This is a notable listing - so good to see on Ebay. The Germans produced 12 different diecut tiaras, or diadems, during the 1920s. Although packaged as a set, as illustrated by the envelope present, they more often were sold individually, accounting for their varied rarity and value. On page 188 of my newly published third edition, the seated cat is valued at $275. The envelope is exceptionally rare. The last one listed had with it about 6 tiaras and fetched several thousand dollars. 

01/12 Update: This listing ended at $1,331.77, a completely unsustainable result. The tiara typically fetches $275, so is the tattered sleeve worth over a thousand bucks? I don't think so...

Vintage 1940s Halloween Wall / Door Decoration Collectable Black Cats w/ Pumpkin

This listing illustrates to me at least one reason why Ebay has become a poorer selling platform than it once was some years back. Sellers are allowed to list and re-list the same garbage indefinitely. This seemingly clueless seller has been peddling this damaged POS for at least two years - always at the same insane price of $128. What she should do is list it starting at one cent, just to see if anyone would want such a damaged thing. Better yet, just crumple it up and use it for kindling on one of these cold winter nights!
Ebay should limit the number of times an item can be re-listed, and insist that after it has been re-listed once, the price must drop no less than 10% each subsequent re-listing. I don't know about you, dear reader, but this guy is really tired of seeing the same sad items cluttering up the Vintage Halloween category. Ebay has, with notable exceptions, become a vast wasteland. 

Rare German Vintage Composition Halloween Black Cat Candy Container 3 3/4" Tall

I perused all of the Halloween listings this seller placed on Ebay over these last several months and was struck by how each and every one of them either featured well-known fantasy items or items that were made in the later 1950s and forward. Notice how elliptical the seller is relative to what is the working definition of "vintage" in this particular listing. The fact of the matter is that this rather drab container was not made prior to the later 1950s, and could have been made as late as the early 1970s. Even so, the BIN price of $59.95 isn't unreasonable. Just be sure of what you are buying. Items such as these don't command high prices and perhaps never will, as the workmanship just isn't present compared to German composition candy containers made from the mid-teems through the mid-1930s. 

Have a Merry Christmas!

Faithful Reader, 
Thanks for visiting my blog and reading my scribblings throughout this year - and maybe even before that! Although I enjoy updating the site, curious as to what is selling at what price and how many more inroads reproductions and fantasy items are making into our fun hobby, I get tired of the endeavor right around now. I like to take a break from thinking about Halloween so as to spend time tending to my other interests and collections. 
Unless some notable items are listed, I'll take my normal break from updating the site until early January. In the meantime, take good care, enjoy the holidays - and don't forget that copies of my fully revised and expanded third edition of Vintage Halloween Collectibles make superb Christmas presents! :) 
MBL

 

#185 ANTIQUE HALLOWEEN 3 CARDBOARD DIE-CUTS MAID WITCH CLOWN GERMANY 1920s/1930s

This is merely one example of the great bargains to be had this time of the year for Halloween collectors. (Although a great time to buy, it is a horrific time to sell, since the recently passed holiday seems to have sated collectors' appetites, a phenomenon that occurs regularly from about early November through late March.) My advice, unless you have to sell, just wait until early April to begin selling anything noteworthy.