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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PAPER MACHE JACK O LANTERN PUMPKIN 1930'S " NICE"

This seller, christmaslady51, is precisely the kind of dealer I despise. She has listed (and relisted!) this item as being a vintage one, even though she has been alerted to its lack of age by at least three collectors. She simply responds, "Thanks," and does nothing else. Is she hoping to take advantage of some new collector, wanting to off-load something clearly and sadly made offshore, perhaps as recently as last week? This abomination, with its faux-distress and curly handle, shouldn't fool anyone. Ask yourself, if it was truly old why would it be damaged in the areas the photos show? It makes no sense. To paraphrase a recent US president, Christmaslady51, tear down this listing! 

20 vintage paper Halloween SEALS black CAT stickers in box Gibson

Even though the typical seal design issued by Gibson tends to be less stylized than an average Dennison example, these little Gibson gems have grown on me over the last few years. I avidly collect them. They are marginally harder to find complete than are Dennison boxed products, which is why this result is puzzling. The set fetched a paltry $14.99, perhaps as a result of the overly negative verbiage relating to condition the seller included. (The photos don't seem to match the verbiage.) In any event, I think the buyer scored a solid bargain. 

Vintage GERMAN Halloween Paper Mache Pumpkin Lantern - Paper Eyes, Nose & Mouth

I chuckled reading the description for this newly crafted item. The seller states, "This is unmarked, but obviously German made." Of course, it isn't. In fact, these words in the header don't belong: vintage, German and paper mache. This is a nice decorative item, almost certainly made in China or some other similar off-shore manufacturing center. I'd estimate its seasonal decorative value at $20. 

FN Burt Halloween Witch & Cauldron, AUTHENTIC, RARE!!

This is a spectacular piece offered by a seller I thoroughly trust. This small pulp masterpiece of a witch tending to her cauldron was made by the F.N. Burt Company of Buffalo, New York during the 1930s. These don't surface much, and when they do they are often dirty, scuffed, marred in some way and missing their paper cup. (I've even seen a few painted!) This example has none of those deficiencies - or any other that I can discern. Bottom line - if you don't have one of these small treasures in your collection, you can do no better than buying this item from this super seller. 

Antique 1920s Halloween Witch Moon Costume Decorations Crepe Paper Vintage Hat

Considering the relatively poor condition of this hat, it still managed to bring a strong $90.99. This hat, one of only four designs that Beistle issued as "New Moon Hats" from 1933-1937, is exceedingly rare. Two of the designs in the collection are shown on page 239. The other two, although described in my text, I've never been able to purchase. I feel this set is the hardest of the great hat sets to complete. 

Vintage Mickey Mouse Disney Halloween German Diecut JOL Band 15"~MINT~NR

This great Mickey Mouse-like band member is from a set that has always had a special place in my thinking. The design with the JOL-creature playing a horn was the first German diecut I ever purchased, subsequently upgraded several times. I was in Seattle, shopping at a long-defunct shop called Antiques Bela V. I asked the owner if she had any Halloween and she looked at me as if I was crazy. (This was early September of 1989. Back then, dealers didn't put out their Halloween wares until mid-October.) The set is a great one to have and this example looks to be in tip-top condition. If you love diecuts, snap this one up!

Early Never Used Halloween Trix Or Treats Skelton-Pumpkin Sucker/Lollipop Holder

I am glad to see Trix or Treats cards from Set B continue to bring sustainable prices. The seller mischaracterizes the manufacturing time lines. The first set Rosen issued was Set A, comprised of six designs. These are larger, more colorful cards and were issued in the 1930s. Set B, from which this card comes, was released beginning in the later 1940s. As with Set C, issued in the early 1950s, five designs comprise a full set. By and large, although cards from Set C are more difficult to find, cards from Set B typically fetch the most money. A full accounting of these sets can be found on pages 90-92. 

vintage drummer figurine- handwinding - papermaché head - Germany

Readers of this blog know that I feel next to nothing being offered by dealers based in Germany is authentically vintage. The Germans made everything for export; nothing was retained to be discovered in a "warehouse find" after the Berlin Wall fell. Truly vintage Halloween winding mechanicals are exceedingly rare. I haven't seen one I feel is unquestionably authentic since I personally examined a collection in Los Angeles in 2009.