I enjoy reading clear, spare writing so how could I not enjoy this listing? Part of one sentence brought a rare smile to this face: “…we honestly feel that finding one in better shape will be daunting.” I concur. This is only the second time I’ve seen this Whitney fence in my time collecting. The fence has a pleasing energy to it, different from some Whitney fences that are static in their designs. If you appreciate these fences - and I have quite a nice collection - you simply cannot let this one get away. When will you see it again?
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Antique 40s G.M. Co Die Cut Halloween Candy Container Witch Black Cat RARE
The G.M. Company produced a number of slot-and-tab candy holders during the 1940s and 1950s. They produced a set of six Halloween designs of which this witch stirring a cauldron is one. (You can see the others on page 54.) All of these designs are common, so if you want to add one to your collection just look for those items in near-mint or better condition. This one, which actually sold for $170, is in such poor condition that I am mystified by that price.
Vintage Halloween 2-sided Black Cat Jack-O-Lantern With Paper Facial Inserts
This identically dual-sided cat face lantern was produced by Dolly Toy for many seasons beginning in the 1940s and extending well through the 1950s. These lanterns are usually found in poorish condition due to the irregular borders, the thin inserts and the wax almost found at the bottom. Hence, these generally fetch in the $50-75 range. However, this example is in unusually nice condition with the only real flaw being a hole at the one on one side. That accounts for the ending price, as condition does (and should) heavily factor into desirability. (Always buy the best, fellow collector!)
Vintage Halloween 1930’s Beistle Hallowe’en Tango Cat & Orig. Glassine Envelope
Wow! How many times have you seen a near-mint Beistle Tango Cat with its original glassine envelope? Answer: Maybe never! This is one of the best listings gracing eBay in 2025. Beistle produced two Tango designs - this cat and a scary witch - for only a season or two beginning in 1930. I suspect they were not brisk sellers. Here is what I write on page 225: “The construction of this Tango figure did not lend itself well to survival over the decades. Opening and closing the honeycomb stresses the main body and degrades the honeycomb. The points along the border typically are creased and bumped. Because he cannot stand and must be hung, there are invariably creases or repairs at the feet. The severity of these nearly always present condition issues has a direct correlation to value.” This listing deserves the attention of all collectors who understandably treasure the Beistle aesthetic. I hope it does well.
04/18 Update: This brought $1,303.99. I thought it would bring several hundred dollars more.
2 Antique Vintage Halloween Diecut Art Deco Bridge Tally Card Decorations 1920s!
I love the stylistic juxtaposition between these two tallies, both made by regional manufacturers whose small paper wares are avidly collected. The tally by Henderson Line has a fresh anime feel to it with a touch of sweetness. The tally by Clark is appealing for its fantastic bat, its sense of motion and the sly JOL. I have not seen either design before, so I hope they bring strong dollars.
DRGM Devil with Pitchfork Halloween Crank Noisemaker Germany 1930-40's
This rare German crank noisemaker is one I’ve not seen before. It was almost certainly produced sometime from 1930-1935 for export. The DRGM mark was used through 1949 but the Germans pivoted from using metal for these export items around 1935 to accommodate their expansionist policies that resulted in WWII. The ending price is fully justified. Very nice item, indeed!
Lot Of Vintage Halloween Cake Toppers 12 Piece
The buyer got a true bargain! These 1950s Rosbro hard plastic decorations are desirable and hard-to-find - especially the skeletons.
Vintage 1920’s Halloween Tally Card Of A Happy JOL In A Top Hat Smoking A Pipe
This desirable tally was produced by Hallmark during the later 1920s. Smoking was so socially acceptable at that time that little thought was given to producing a tally with a pipe-smoking JOL. Although this minty tally is already at a strong $51, it has some more room to run in the 5+ days until the auction concludes.
04/15 Update: This tally brought $68.59.
Vintage Dennison Halloween Die Cut Cardboard "Hallo' Inn" Door Hanger Decoration
Although this actually sold with a BIN of $375, given the condition I was surprised it sold at that price point. Dennison, like pretty much every business during the Great Depression, had to scramble to survive. They released this design in 1930 on thin-stock yellow paper, and probably restricted the print run to ensure they sold everything they produced at full retail through their stores. It is a great, eye-catching design, rivaling the other door hanger design released that same year. (See the top of page 143.) Dennison played their cards well as they survived the Great Depression unlike so many of their smaller competitors.
Vintage German Halloween Black Cat & PUMPKIN Paper Mache Candy Container
This is a reproduction made sometime after 1995. It has zero collectible value. As I write on page 69, “Reproduced versions of this container with a smaller pumpkin base were made beginning in the mid-1990s. These new versions tend to be heavier and lack the detailing of the originals.”
04/13 Update: Some poor schmuck wasted $229.50 on this reproduction.
2 MINT Antique Vintage Halloween Party Invitation Decorations, Whitney? 1920s
These were both produced by Hallmark during the 1920s.
04/09 Update: These two great Hallmark invitations sold for quite a bit less than what they typically fetch. The invitation in front is more common than the other, yet still usually brings $50-60 alone. The other card, less often seen, usually brings $70-80. Is small paper losing a bit of its luster? Is it simply be due to the vagaries of eBay? Could it be tax time? (Probably the latter!)
Vintage Halloween Hat with Plume, Flying Witch and Black Cat; Beistle, 1920-21
What a magnificent early Beistle hat. (Boy, does that witch need a shave!) The Beistle script mark was used only on their earliest products, so this hat might actually be from 1918-1919. It seems to be made from an onion skin paper grade like the many more common German hats from this same era. The image of the cat is also so well rendered. The fact it has survived over a century with its jaunty plume attached is a marvel. It’ll be fun to see what this fetches.
04/11 Update: This great hat brought nearly $160.
Vintage Halloween Coaster Black Cat, Bats; Sanders of Chicago, 1930's-1940's
I’ve seen too many wacky paper coasters produced for Halloween parties over the years, with their frenetic imagery mirroring the hopes that whatever shindig was ongoing would be equally frenetic. This coaster is different. The imagery is subtle, maybe somber even. I love it and am surprised I’ve never seen it before. I tried to dig up basic information about the Sanders Absorbent Coaster Company of Chicago, Illinois, to no avail. If you collect paper party goods like plates, cups, napkins and the like, I’d advise you to snap up this coaster now, as you probably will never see it again.
04/07 Update: This sold for an astounding $116.18, surely a record for a coaster.
Vintage Halloween Shackman Accordion Pumpkin JOL Noisemaker
This Shackman bellowed noisemaker, produced sometime after 1960, is based on the original design produced by the Japanese in the 1930s. The original design has colored heavy paper bellows and is stamped “Japan” on the lower inside margin of one of the end pieces. These original accordions from the 1930s are quite difficult to find in working condition. The listing on eBay is for a second generation noisemaker.
Vintage Halloween Novelty Spinning Place Cards Holders WHITNEY 1930s/1920s
The contents of this Whitney game are incorrect and incomplete. The fortunes with lid tops do not belong with the game. (One actually belongs as the fortune to another listing this same seller has on eBay now.) Although the spinners are present, the wooden sticks and the twelve fortunes are missing. Given the overall poor condition of this admittedly difficult-to-find Whitney item, the BIN price of $395 is much, much too high. I feel a fair price given what is on offer is $75.
