I recently bought an enormous private collection, much of it for resale, and this very hard-to-find Dennison black cat tally was one of the 25 or so pieces I kept for the collection. Prior to acquiring it, I had not seen one before, but had seen it referenced in one of the early 1930s Dennison publications. These were sold singly in stationary shops. If you are a Dennison completist, like me, you'll want this rare tally.
10/29 Update: This sold for a strong $34.39.
This is an exceptional Dennison nut cup design from the late 1920s. There were four designs to the set and they were sold only as a set. These rarely come up for sale - especially in unused condition. Snap this up, pronto, folks!
This candy container design has been reproduced. (It actually was one of the first of the authentic designs to be reproduced.) The fakes can be easily differentiated from the authentic. (This listing shows an authentic item.) Truly vintage items have a broad pumpkin and exceptional detailing on the cat.
This eye-catcher is the much sought after Beistle fairy clock made only for the 1923 season. Because it was made for only the one season, these rarely surface for sale. When they do, they are nearly always in the same condition as this example. This is a large, irregularly bordered diecut, so bends, perimeter nicks and surface paper loss defects are common. Condition is, of course, an important factor in determining value. SGV for this masterpiece of design is $750-850.
10/26 Update: Given the condition issues present with this example, the ending price was a strong $699.99.
This tin tam, made by Chein in the early 1930s, appears to be in remarkable condition. I question, though, whether the condition warrants a ~120% premium to SGV. As with virtually all such endings, the price was driven by two bidders.
As with so many items being sold by this seller, this doesn't look right to me. It is definitely not a German made item. The Japanese made this design as well, copied after the German design, and this MAY be one of them. I've looked at the photos closely and have compared what they show to the piece in the collection and there are few points of overlap. There is no elegance to the overall design as it appears short and squat. The bottom is crude, nothing like the German example. The top from which the excessively thick wick emerges is not flush, but is recessed, a characteristic that the German items never possess. The handle is overly thick and appears to be rather amateurishly highlighted in yellow. The dimensions are wrong. I know this design has been handcrafted by folk artists recently, so this MAY be of very modern vintage. Without personally examining it, I can't be sure. I am sure of this: It isn't German.
10/26 Update: I'm happy to note that this suspect item sold for a pittance compared to what an indisputably vintage one made in Germany would have sold for.
Although this appears to be old, I don't think it was made in Germany or was even imported. It looks to be a homemade creation with decorative value only.
Can you imagine a mainline toy manufacturer making something with this image today? Times sure have changed - and for the better! This odd design occupies one side of a thin tin ratchet made in Germany during the early 1930s.
I regret losing out on acquiring this great set. Gibson made far fewer boxed sets than their main rival, Dennison. Gibson's sets tend to consist of simple designs, with an occasional masterpiece produced. I hadn't seen this set before and had placed it on my Watch List. However, I've been so busy this season that I've been forgetting to bid or set up esnipe bids. Congrats to the prevailing bidder who obtained a rare set for a good price.
I've had the occasion to examine lots of German lanterns over the last year and this strikes me as a stand-out. I love the sheen, the fact that it has its original insert and that the oft-missing ears are present and firmly attached. The fact that the bottom has been replaced is a non-issue. It'll be fun to see what this great item brings in a true auction format!
This was another strong sale for this great seller They list 50+ items each season with items offered at many price points, appealing to beginning and advanced collectors alike. The German candy container genre has been soft overall, except in those instances where the sellers are known and trusted. This is because this genre is rife with fakes, reproductions and items with undisclosed restoration. For this genre especially, never buy something unless the seller offers a simple, unfettered refund policy. The best and safest practice is to only buy from trusted sellers.
Looking at the results stnick22 received for their candy container offerings, I marvel at the strong prices fetched across the board. This serene little guy was a candidate for inclusion into the collection, but I was distracted with other activities and forgot to bid. That was certainly my loss.
And the pleasurable avalanche of quality Beistle continues...It is great to see such a wealth of vintage Halloween being made available for sale this season. This favor basket, one of four designs of this size, doesn't come up for sale often. Issued by Beistle from 1927-1931, these survivors are hardy specimens as these favor baskets are inherently fragile with their honeycomb bases. Turn to page 225 to see all four to the set.
10/23 Update: This sold for a surprisingly low price - $170.17.
I love Dennison boxed goods - but not all of them. Except for the very common broomed witches in silhouette, this is my least favorite set. It doesn't evoke Halloween for me at all, but does St. Patrick's Day! Collectors mustn't be excited about this set either as it rarely inspires spirited bidding.
I sure don't get this result for what is a ratty looking, uninteresting lantern. As with so many of these head-shaking results, the bidding was driven by two bidders. The bidding was at an already generous $500, when the two escalated the price 10x. The seller must be wearing Depends after seeing the ending price.
I was sorry to see that a collector wasted $199.99 on this reproduction. Blumchens began importing these reproductions from Germany in the mid-1990s. They are easily discerned from the old lanterns. With the reproductions, the paper lining is too bright and the overall embossing is either not present or is so faint that it does not resemble authentic vintage lanterns. Get your money back from the seller.
