This Beistle plumed owl hat was made for a single season, 1931. This surfaces rarely, so even with the very minor damage indicated, if you collect early Beistle paper items - and what true collector doesn't (smile) - this is one you should snap up. I applaud the seller for starting the auction at a price well below what it should be expected to fetch.
Blog
Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
No vintage value - 10-26-2012
The following items are not vintage items, but either reproductions or fantasy items produced within the last 20 years. They have no collectible value:
120981265037, 251146944099, 251144626662, 280973632282, 230854624065, 221129059587, 290779711322, 180981026414, 110956575277, 280980527985, 271069988518, 300786481351, 280982675199, 110958498569, 190733187494, 110959249476, 230859781907, 350614618040, 350614607628, 180994189411, 180996610322, 190739661307, 190739659846, 280998558850, 280998581020, 200834301110, 140870012109, 290794926226, 130786972983, 400330793906, 230869083929
VINTAGE 1935 GERMAN HALLOWEEN EMBOSSED DIE-CUT WINGED DEVIL BAT
This seller implies that I have valued it at $3,000 even with the disclosed repair. This is false. I have had no contact with this seller prior to a few minutes ago when I contacted them requesting that this reference be removed. The diecut is incredibly rare. In perfect condition, based on the results of two auctions since 2010, I would estimate the value to be in the neighborhood of $2,000. With the repair, I'd knock off 10-15%.
(Glad to see this seller, who dishonestly attributed a valuation to me, didn't get much for this. This git apologized to me for the falsification then NEVER changed his auction verbiage. I have added him to my list of those with whom I choose not to do business.)
Vintage 1930's Halloween stand up ghoul jointed cardboard and crepe paper
This Beistle winged ghoul is nearly impossible to find in complete condition. Nearly always there are two specific condition issues with this great vintage piece: the top knots are missing as are both edges of the base. Although the top knots of this item have been affixed with tape, this is an easy repair for a good paper restorer. This should do well, an easy projection to make given how high the bids are as of this writing - $202.49.
(Ended at $406.66 - wow!)
Old Beistle Halloween Scarecrow Hanging Decoration w/Original Paper Bag
A substantial number of these Beistle decorations (all of the variants) were discovered as NOS around 2003, greatly depressing their value. The designs were made when Beistle was running on fumes from an artistic design standpoint, so their collectible value was never great. If you are inclined to buy these decorations, be sure that they are dead mint with a dead mint envelope.
RARE Vintage Halloween Witch’s Hat with Running Cats, Germany 1920s
I love this "pop-up" German hat. Not only is the imagery unusual and compelling, but the inherent fragility of the material makes these extant examples truly scarce. Throw in the fact that you have an opportunity to purchase this from one of the finest sellers on Ebay, and you have a perfect confluence of goodness.
(I am agog over the ending price of $198.63!)
Vintage HALLOWEEN Noisemaker 1920s Tin Wood JOL Witch Owls
This is a head-scratcher! I wonder why this not uncommon noisemaker brought so much?
Vintage Dennison Halloween Seals (18) - Witch - Black Cat - Face - Original Box
This is a truly rare box of Dennison seals definitely made sometime between 1929-1931. Prior to looking at this listing, I've not seen this particular design offered for sale. I'd be a bidder but the box is much too rough for my collection.
(Condition really affects value. This rare set only brought $123.83, about half of what I feel a near-mint set would have fetched.)
VINTAGE ANTIQUE HALLOWEEN WITCH NOISEMAKER, OLD ESTATE, NR !
This noisemaker, another item I've not seen before, was definitely made by Merri-Lei of New York in the 1950s. The tells are the glossy paper stock and the incised lines.
(This brought a stronger-than-expected $47.56.)
US Paper Mache Skull Lantern
This odd lantern was originally manufactured without any inserts. The way it is being offered is its original state.
1930's Vintage Halloween Game Whoo's Whoo? Silhouette Game by Gibson
This is only the third time I have ever seen this drawing game for sale! Made by Gibson in the 1930s, it originally came with a pad of paper. They were sold folded, so the crease below the verbiage is how it came from the factory. Condition will certainly factor in to the ending price, but this is an uber-rare item. If you collect Gibson items, this may not surface again for a long time. (I bought mine in the 1990s.)
(This should have brought much more.)
Vintage 1940s Halloween Decoration Collectable Black Cats w/ Pumpkin
The seller states that this diecut has "...no flaws to report." Hmmm...
Witch's Mystery Answer Game
This is one of Beistle's iconic Halloween party games made from 1933-38. Although many were produced and many still exist, the large form factor and the ridged edges conspire to make this game hard-to-find in this super condition. Given who is selling this game, I don't think you could go wrong. Snap it up!
VINTAGE 1920'S (2) GERMAN HALLOWEEN EMBOSSED DIECUTS
Whomever the buyer was got one of the best deals in 2012 scooping these very hard-to-find mini-diecuts up for a song. The listing only lasted 2.5 minutes! I sure wish I was browsing Ebay at that time!
1920'S GERMAN EMBOSSED DIECUTS JACK O'LANTERN & GIRL RARE
This purchase was THE best buy in 2012 to date. I've never seen these two mini-diecuts before, which means these are off-the-scale rare. The seller made a very serious error in listing these with a Buy-It-Now of $79.99. This pair may very well have brought ten times that amount.