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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Early German Embossed Halloween Stand-Up Die-Cut Skull & Crossbones

Who is azpaperlady and where is she getting such rare, wonderful paper items? Will she adopt me? The Germans manufactured these fancy hat skull and crossbones diecuts in at least two variations toward the middle thirties. As with so much of their output at that time, these diecuts primarily headed to Canada. The variant shown in my second edition on page 164 is valued at $400. Given the splendid condition of the diecut being offered for sale (Who cares about the easel?), I feel it should end right around there. 

10/01 Update: The ending price blew right past the forecasted $400 ending price settling at $967.77. This result is one I don't understand since several of these in similar condition have sold over the past year in a narrow range of $375-475. Perhaps it is the excitement engendered by the onset of the season!  

Vintage 1930s-era Halloween die cut decoration. Whoopee Witch and Skeleton

This is the very first time I have ever seen this Dennison diecut for sale since I acquired mine nearly fifteen years ago. As I write under its caption on page 127, "This item must have had a very limited distribution." In perfect condition, book value is $350. Given this one's less-than-perfect condition, who knows what it will bring. Isn't is quirky? 

10/01 Update: Once again, this blew past book value settling at $510. (Perhaps it is time for a third edition?) I do understand this result more so than the German skull diecut with hat that sold for $967.77. Several of those have sold over the last year but this is only the second time I have seen this offered for sale EVER. Kudos to the buyer. This is a great diecut. (By the way, I feel this diecut was probably made by Gibson. More research needs to be done, but I am definitely leaning this way.) 

OUTSTANDING HALLOWEEN CAT AGAINST MOON, HUGE CAT AGAINST ORANGE MOON

The seller, long one of my favorites, has done a service in disclosing that this diecut is perhaps not what it appears. When she and I discussed this matter, I mentioned that I wasn't aware of it being professionally reproduced, like Beistle is doing with many of its earlier decorations. (As an aside, I applaud Beistle for making their reproductions in such a way so as not to disturb the secondary market. They have marked each of their newly made items in such a way that they cannot be passed off as new, plus make virtually all of their new items as dual-sided items, another quick tip-off to their newness.)  However, not being professionally reproduced doesn't mean that some person toiling away privately hasn't made a poor copy of an original. There are such people out there, well-known to me. I suspect that the haze on this particular item is tantamount to the crazing seen in newly manufactured porcelain items meant to fool. The fact alone that this is on thick cardboard causes me to be very suspicious. I feel this has decorative value only. 

1937 Beistle Lg Embossed Flying Witch Bats Black Cat Halloween Decoration

Hot damn! My socks have been blown off by this ending price. This is a great image and part of a set of five scalloped-edged, sizable diecuts Beistle began producing in 1932. I have noticed a sharp increase in prices fetched for early Beistle items in collectible condition over the past 12 months. This surprising result contributes to that trend. The rarest one from the set of 5 is the skeleton walking through the graveyard. Given this result, I wonder if that diecut would break $1500? 

Vintage Halloween VG+ BEISTLE Crepe Basket Candy Cup 1925 OWL, BLACK BAT, & JOL

It is so invigorating to see some truly scarce items finally surfacing on Ebay. (It is the season!) It has been a long time since one of these Beistle small honeycomb favor baskets was listed on Ebay. There were four designs that were released from 1927-1931. They are all shown on the bottom of page 244. These are quite sturdy little creations, although few have survived the ravages of the past ~86 years. It will be fun to see what this fetches. I'll be watching! 

VINTAGE TIN HALLOWEEN WITCH TAMBOURINE

Wow, this is a rare variant of a common tambourine. I think this is the second time I've seen this in 25 years. I bought the one in my collection in an odd lot through Bertoia years ago. There isn't a mark anywhere. The rim is decorated with a repeating pattern of fairly nondescript jack-o-lanterns. My guess is that this was made in Japan in the early 1950s with their then casual disregard for other manufacturers' designs. "Borrowing" like this was, essentially, a quick way to make a buck. That said, in adapting the original design from T. Cohn, I feel the interlopers made some interesting choices in improving upon the original. My theory is that T. Cohn must have made a stink, was successful in removing this item from the marketplace, making this particular tambourine quite rare. 

Beistle Halloween Skill Game "I'm A Dumb Skull"

This great Beistle game from 1930 used to surface much more frequently, so it is good to finally see one - and one in such collectible condition. As I point out on page 25, "There are 2 board variations. The less common version has a parrot on top, a clock dial at the base with a metal spinner, and no easel." This version being sold has a cat on top, no clock dial or metal spinner, and an easel.  

Old German Halloween JOL Pumpkin Man Paper Mache Painted Head Pipe Noisemaker

This is a fantasy piece first imported to the United States through Blumchen's and through a prolific Germany-based dealer who used to set up and sell at the Atlantic City show. I would always visit his booth to get a preview of the fantasy pieces that would insidiously worm their way into vintage collections. I recall seeing this kind of item, as well as several others in the "set'" around 1996.  

1940's Vintage Rare Halloween Party / Trick or Treat Sign Dennison USA

Dennison radically shifted their design aesthetic from about 1929 to 1931, injecting their creations with fluidity of motion and a cartoonish feel. This change in design rippled through their entire product line, even down to their boxed seal sets. I suspect this was not a popular move as Dennison seemed to change course after 1931. So, when you see designs like this, you can date them to this narrow time frame. Because they weren't all that popular, these designs are hard to find these days. I haven't seen this excellent "STOP" diecut offered for sale for quite some time. Unfortunately, the words added to the traffic cop's hat were done after manufacture, significantly impacting value. The companion piece to this is a diecut called "Hallo' Inn." It is shown on page 151 courtesy of my good friend, Jason Walcott. It is rare enough that I have never been able to locate one in good enough condition to purchase.  

Vintage Halloween Box With Cat Figure top/Witch Candy Holder (2pcs)

The gem of this lot is the rare Rosen box on the left. I'm positive that it accounted for the vast majority of what this lot fetched. The E. Rosen Company of Providence, Rhode Island, was a firm that specialized in hard plastic holiday items, but they sometimes ventured ino the area of cardboard candy containers and sucker holders. Most of their Halloween cardboard items are rare and desirable, especially their "Pops" mechanicals. (Turn to page 104.) I have never seen this Rosen witch candy container before, so I envy the prevailing bidder!