Vintage Cardboard Halloween Donut Toss Stunt Game 1935

Even though the condition of this game is not appealing, it is refreshing to see something substantive on Ebay. I feel the listings have been for much too long ​woefully deficient of anything of interest to anyone collecting things beyond the ordinary. Notice the slats at the bottom of the cat enabling the diecut to fit into the box. Keep these slats in mind if you see this game for sale. More often than not, someone has substituted the far-more-common cat, otherwise identical, without slats. This Beistle game does not surface often. 

5/18 Update: I'm glad to see that this game fetched $171.00! ​

RARE c1940s ART DECO Halloween Table Decoration BLACK CAT!!! Full Moon PLACECARD

Although I would not recommend that any collector acquire this particular item due to its condition, know that this compelling design was manufactured by Whitney in the 1930s. It is one of a complete set of six, each slightly different. ​The set is shown on page 216. 

Halloween Cardboard Party Hat, 1950s

I think this exceptionally rare Beistle hat slipped under the radar of many ​advanced collectors. Contrary to the seller's assertion that this hat is from the 1950s, it was manufactured by Beistle for a single season only, in 1933. Prior to this listing, I had NEVER seen this hat before in person, not in any of the many collections I have had the privilege of perusing, not in any auction catalog, not anywhere. The lone reference to this astoundingly rare hat is from Lavin's 2005 compilation on page 112. Arguably, I think this is the most interesting and involved design Beistle ever issued. Just look at it, look at the many design elements, the action, the color. It is superb! I suspect the same artist responsible for their nearly-as-awesome fairy hats from 1923 was responsible for this masterpiece. I feel that this hat could have easily fetched at least double if more collectors were paying attention. 

HALLOWEEN MECHANICAL WITCH, SACRED BE YE FIRE O' HALLOWEEN, DECORATION. SCARCE!!

I would avoid acquiring this very damaged item. As the seller points out, the top of the hat and the cauldron stirrer are missing. Perhaps more importantly, a significant portion of the right side is completely missing. The cat at the right is essentially cut in half. ​

Vintage 1930's 1940's Halloween Noisemaker Cross Cotton Mills Co. Cardboard Horn

The seller has made a common error in attributing the maker of the horn to the firm mentioned on the inside label. ​As I point out on page 179, "The cardboard bodies of this genre of horn were quite often re-used spindles from textile factories. Their labels will be found often affixed to the interiors." This is a great illustration of the maxim, Waste Not, Want Not!

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN SKELETON NOISEMAKER RATTLE US METAL TOY

This noisemaker is arguably the best designed noisemaker the U.S. Metal Toy company ever manufactured. It is a large one with excellent lithography. Even though it was produced relatively late in the game - and you can deduce this fact by its always plastic handle - this particular noisemaker is devilishly difficult to locate in acceptable condition. (As one of my favorite Ebay sellers likes to proclaim, "There's no bones about it!") These typically trade in the $175-250 price range, so this fetching $305.00 is a strong result indeed - especially considering one in similar condition sold last November for $$220.50. ​

Vintage Halloween Hard Plastic - Large Kokomold Pumpkin Coach w/ Cat & Witch

I am always amazed at what these Kokomold coaches bring. Now, as regular readers know, I've never appreciated or collected Halloween hard plastic. However, if I were to deign to allow hard plastic into my collection, this would be the piece that would make it. Nicely whimsical, I still couldn't fathom paying $1,500 for it. ​

A Hugh Lot of Vintage Rosbro and Kokomold Halloween Hard Plastics 111 pieces

"One toke over the line, Sweet Jesus, one toke over the line..." $120,000? Really? ​

Vintage 1920's German Composition Halloween Witch Jack O Lantern Candy Container

It makes me sad that some poor sap pissed away $175.00 on this true POS. Just look at it! The buyer must be more of an imbecile than a genius to have thought for even a moment that this misshapen and laughably painted refugee from an elementary school art project ​was actually vintage AND a product of German artisans. This seller has long been on my list of those with whom  I choose not to business. Shameful! 

Vintage Gibson Art Co. Halloween Witch Seals + More Orig. Slip Box Great Find !

This listing tells an interesting tale. When Gibson first began producing boxed goods like Dennison was doing, they were scrambling to catch up with their better capitalized competitor. My theory is that they rushed to market with designs bought from German artists, stamped with their Gibson mark on the reverse and hurriedly placed in boxes, so hurriedly that there was no indication on the boxes of the expected quantity per box. I've come to the conclusion that these early Gibson slide boxes were made in the teens, probably closer to 1910 than to 1920. (My book shows this box on page 222. I'll add the new production dates in the errata.) In every instance where populated early Gibson sliders have surfaced, the seals contained within are an assortment. (Not as wide as this assortment, as this includes some seals that weren't made by Gibson.) ​Relative to this lot, the box and most of the  seals are definitely worth having. 

04/29 Update: Someone really felt this was worth having as it was bid up to an eye-popping $197.38. ​

VINTAGE 1920'S GERMANY GERMAN HALLOWEEN PAPER MACHE JOL JACK O LANTERN

Well, as most of you should know, this is a fantasy item first made in the mid-1990s to deceive newer collectors. It has very modest decorative value only. I have interacted with this typically fine seller and am surprised to find her listing this well known fantasy item. I dropped her an email this morning alerting her to the reality of this piece. As I was confident she'd do, the seller has modified the listing making it very clear that this has decorative value only. Thanks! 

Original Scarce 1920s Black Boy on a JOL Halloween Candy Container Germany NM

There were at least six containers comprising this set of characters emerging from a JOL. (I have all of them in my collection.) In addition to this very desirable boy, others in the set include a sailor, a bellhop, a JOL-headed boy, a straw hat-wearing JOL teen and a schoolboy. The latter one has a movable head. I have been on a long quest to find others. The seller of this candy container is as honest as the summer days are long. I am proud to have him on my site's list of those with whom I like to ​do business. 

04/24 Update: I am glad to see this cute candy container brought nearly $400.00. ​

RARE VINTAGE 1920s HALLOWEEN TIN LITHO DUAL SIDED CLAPPER NOISEMAKER SCARCE HTF

Due to its rusted condition I wouldn't advocate making this part of a vintage collection, but I did want to post that this is one of the hardest tin litho noisemakers to acquire. ​I was lucky enough to buy the one in my collection in the late 1980s when I didn't really know much. I found it at a local show, buying it even though I thought it was incomplete because of its odd construction. The first big wave of tin litho noisemakers made expressly for Halloween came along in 1928, the year I feel this was made. Primitive, the manufacturers quickly perfected their processes turning out finished goods that had more of a retail feel to them. My theory is that this noisemaker style was made for one season and probably didn't sell well. In perfect condition, these tend to go for $225-325. One hasn't surfaced in a public sale for several years. 

04/24 Update: I am quite surprised that this rare item fetched only $37. The buyer got a steal, even considering the rough condition. ​

RARE VINTAGE 1920s GERMAN HALLOWEEN HEAVILY EMBOSSED BAT DIECUT VGC

As the seller rightly notes, "Light color areas are part of the original design & are NOT "worn-away color"!” This German bat diecut is a little gem. ​Very detailed and spooky, it displays quite well on a wall. (Nearly every diecut I own is hung on a wall.) Although there are two of these up right now, I can honestly say they don't surface often, especially in this condition. (The other one listed is in lesser condition.) The little tab seen on the top of the right wing as you look at the photo gives a clue as to how these were originally produced. Like sheets of paper scrap, these small diecuts were produced with several comprising a sheet. If you don't own this diecut treasure, make sure you grab this one. Another in this condition may not come along for a while. 

Vintage Halloween BEISTLE 1920s game card BAT & SCYTHE MOON of Beistle Party Set

This is an odd card. Beistle issued these game cards as part of a set introduced in 1918 and made for only one or two seasons after. (This early, original party set was available in boxed and enveloped versions; both being exceedingly hard-to-find complete.) I have never before seen a game card with the egregious misspelling of the ​word adjective before. My initial theory: This card was originally part of an early printing run, perhaps one and only run, after which the spelling was corrected. Collectors, do me a favor and check your game cards from this early set. Do any of you have cards with this error? Write and let me know, please!