Blog

Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

1940's Beistle Co Die Cut Halloween Black Cat Mouse Swiss Cheese

This seller has been flogging this and other diecuts from this uninspired Beistle set for over a year with no takers for one primary reason - her BIN prices are insane. For instance, she has slapped a $449.00 BIN price on this particular one when its value is perhaps $50-60 on a very good day. She has done this for over a year. Get a clue that no one wants this at that price level and sell it using the auction format starting at $9.99. My repeated questions to her as to where she gets the idea that these diecuts are worth anywhere close to the laugh-inducing values she places on them have been answered with a deafening silence. 

Old Halloween Candy Container Scary Lamppost w/ Cotton Mouse

Although the bottom of the slide box where the stamped mark is typically found is missing, this candy container has all the characteristics of candy containers made in Japan in the early 1930s. The typical craftsmanship of Japanese candy containers from this period was quite poor relative to the those exported from Germany. The look is primitive, the materials typically low-grade (especially the "pebbled paper" the Japanese used - a strong indication of country of manufacture) and the overall impact, "meh." I have not made a point of collecting candy containers from Japan for these reasons, always shunting my dollars toward the finer, more interesting German wares. The marketplace agrees with me as the price differential between Japanese and German candy containers has always been great. 

1925 Dennison's, Dennison, Halloween Bogie Book, Decorations, Costumes, Etc.

As readers of my books know, hard cover Dennison Bogie Books are hard-to-find and desirable. The most desirable of all are those hard cover editions that were never processed through a library system. These "ex-libraries" tend not to bring top dollar because of the processing defacements sustained in the book. I estimate that if this same edition was not an "ex-library" copy, the ending price would have been between $300-400 given its overall condition. 

RARE, LARGE Vintage Halloween Cat with Trombone Diecut Decoration, Germany 1930s

This is, indeed, an extraordinarily difficult diecut to find in this condition. This is one of the larger diecuts of this ilk that the Germans made - although not the largest. It has long been one of my favorites for the energy it exudes and for being representative of the riotous party fun that once was had by Halloween party-going adults in the 1920s. The seller, an esteemed colleague and riotously fun herself, is correct in pointing out that the simple solution to this diecut's "restless leg" syndrome would not impact the value in any appreciable way. 

What this seller does is trust in Ebay's auction system. She lists things with a low starting price and almost always realizes very strong results. This approach, in my view, is much more preferable to those sellers who slap a "fully valued" starting or BIN price on an item while at the same time extolling the virtues of Ebay in a saccharine way. Don't you agree? Comments welcome...

early vintage German Halloween Black Cat Papier Mache Nodder in Clown Suit

Although this vendor typically sells quality, "right" items, I suspect that this is a married piece - meaning that two separate items have been incorrectly joined together to form one whole piece. I have seen the clown body many times and have never seen it joined with a cat's head. The bold black of the head contrasts with the muted white and pink of the body in a very jarring way, reinforcing my belief that this is a married piece. These two data points, along with the fact that the head is loose, makes the conclusion of it being married and unworthy of being in anyone's collection seem inescapable to me.

Back From A Vacation...

Hello Faithful Readers,  

I have been away on a 10 day road trip driving through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and back through central California to Sacramento. If you ever have a chance to visit such places as Bonner's Ferry, ID, Libby, MT, Missoula, MT, and even Jackpot, NV - do so. I had a fine time traveling with some friends. I returned last night and wanted to update my blog before too much more time went by. I feel that Halloween is quickly nearing, although that may very well be wishful thinking! I have noticed a slight uptick in the quality of items being offered on Ebay and Ruby Lane, always a good thing. 

For those who enjoy shopping at antiques shows, I typically set up and sell at only one per year. This year I'll be at the American Folk Art Festival at the Madonna Estate Winery in Napa, California on Saturday, September 7th from 10-4. If you are out that way then, come on by! 

H.C. CAPWELL Halloween GOOGLY EYE Candy Container Figure German Antique

This seller has been trying to unload this item for well over a year, offering it again and again at the same high price of $899.95. This listing exemplifies one of the more irritating trends on Ebay, wherein sellers just keep endlessly recycling items that no one wants at the offered price. I wish this seller would catch a clue and either offer it in a true auction format with a starting price of no more than $99.99 or simply toss it in the air and test his aim with a 44.  

Antique TIN HALLOWEEN NOISEMAKER, US METAL TOY Black Cat PADDLE CLANGER Vtg BOO!

The seller claims that this tin noisemaker is an early version, citing his research that informed him later versions had round clappers and an orange rather than a green back. I am not sure where this seller gets this erroneous information. It may very well be that the seller is merely hyping an otherwise perfectly fine, although quite common, item. In any event, the seller, like so many sellers on Ebay these days, is fully valuing the offered item at the minimum "auction" price. 

R I P Stacey Heffernan Paulucci

One of my dear friends, Stacey Heffernan Paulucci, who I was lucky enough to meet through our shared love of all things Halloween, passed away after a multi-month battle with cancer just a few days ago. She was only 45. What a true loss. Stacey was someone who always preferred the optimistic side of life, who knew that people were full of good and worthy surprises and was always much more concerned about how YOU were doing. In fact, when I visited her in the hospital a scant few weeks before she died, what she wanted to talk about was my recent trip to Kansas City and whether I had found great vintage Halloween pieces to add to the collection. It sounds trite, but she was one of the good ones, the kind of person whomever originated the phrase, "Only the good die young," had in mind when they uttered it. I will miss her as will all those lucky enough to have known her. I take comfort from the fact that she is at that great Halloween party in the sky, surrounded by all things vintage! Goodbye, Stacey!  

Stacey.JPG

Halloween Fibro Toy Cat Pulling Pumpkin Cart Near Mint 1920's ULTRA RARE

The seller's breathless prose notwithstanding, this is a desirable item, less due to its touted scarcity and much more due to condition. The truth is these Fibro Toy cat wagon candy containers aren't all that rare. (On my scarcity scale of 1-5 detailed in my book, I rate this item a 4.) It is unusual to see them in this very nice condition. However, I think the seller has nearly fully valued the item with his opening price of $149.99, a ploy I dislike on Ebay that is becoming all too common. As I write on page 55, these were made from 1934-1953. "Later iterations have no markings on the underside. These are more common and have a lesser value. REPRO ALERT: Reproductions from the 1990s are made from a thinner, high gloss paper stock and still have wood wheels." 

OUTSTANDING VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN CANDY CONTAINER, MARKED GERMANY, MINTY

Finally, amidst the piles of dreck that have plagued Ebay's vintage Halloween category comes a worthwhile item. This diminutive 1920s German compo wash over cardboard candy container is the real deal and in nice original condition. Another plus is that it is being sold by a great seller - someone who has been on my approved list for a long while. Combine all this with the seller's embrace of the auction system and it yields a great listing to bid upon!