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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

History's American Pickers: Parade Lantern Discovery

I watched The Maineiacs episode of History's American Pickers when it aired Wednesday and was excited to see the Mike Wolfe’s discovery of the tin parade lantern. I was honored to have been asked to provide an on-air appraisal of the item with Danielle Colby at the Antique Archeology location in LeClaire, Iowa. This appraisal was given on January 20th. The entire experience was a great deal of fun. Danielle is just as warm and gracious as she appears to be on camera. The appraisal segment will air in the near future. I’ll be sure to give you all a heads-up as to when that airing will occur. Given that they say the camera adds 10 pounds, I’m both excited and apprehensive at the prospect. Once it does air, I’ll share some behind the scenes experiences and some photos I took during my time there. What I can say now is that the American Pickers’ team, both in front of and behind the camera, is professional, fun and made this writer feel very welcome and valued!

Vintage Halloween Pumpkin Witch Black Cat Lamp Light Paper Shade

This is one Gibson shade that I haven't seen come available all that often. Made in the 1930s, this example seems to be in perfect, unused condition and fetched almost the precise sustainable guide value. As I write in the caption for this shade on page 41, "Can you imagine any mainstream manufacturer of holiday goods today incorporating a cigarette into their designs?" 

Vintage Halloween cardboard cat fence and moon orange black

I saw this within ~45 minutes of it being listed and was in the process of buying it for the bargain basement price of $13.50 plus shipping, but my fingers couldn't fly across the keyboard quickly enough. Whomever bought this literally beat me out by seconds. These silver variants of the somewhat common Beistle set of twelve designs are hard to find. Being made from a thinner paper stock than the "normal" ones, finding them in solid condition is tough, too. The seller should be kicking themselves, as this was something that should have brought 11 times what it did bring. 

Rare Antique 1940s HOO'S NEXT Halloween 'Game Of Stunts' H. E. LUHRS Vintage USA

Although sustainable guide value for this rare game is $185, and this example sold for $160 plus shipping, it wasn't a good deal for the buyer. As with virtually everything, condition is paramount, especially with paper items. The condition of this desirable game is decidedly below what I feel is an acceptable level in that all of the perforated windows have been undone. Making it worse, there is surface marring  at too many of the windows. Fair market value for the example is well below half guide value. My motto is be ready to step up and pay a premium price for an item in premium condition, and never pay much for an item with too much damage. 

HALLOWEEN CATALOG COLLECTION BY BEN TRUWE, PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM BEN TRUWE

Just as in many genres, stellar prices flush out like items. The first of these great references brought ~$285, whereas this one fetched $224.50. As additional copies in similar condition surface, the price should drift down to what I consider a sustainable level - around $100. Congrats to the seller, a good soul who has long been on my list of those with I love to do business. 

5 3/4" - Very Old GERMANY HALLOWEEN DIECUT - JOL w STAR MOON HAT

I'm surprised this seller hasn't modified his listing to acknowledge this is not a diecut that is in "marvelous condition." I've sent him at least two emails since he began trying to sell this diecut over a year ago. So, what's wrong with it? It has been trimmed to give the JOL a Jay Leno-like chin. It wasn't sold this way. Given its damage, the price is decidedly south of $20, nowhere near the $85 BIN price. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN DIE CUT WITCH SPINNER PARTY GAME FORTUNE TELLER

I believe this is a poorly made reproduction. This seller's former Ebay handle was shadowtown. I placed this seller on my list of those with whom I choose not to do business as I felt they sold reproductions of vintage Halloween items. This game, which sold for $305, is definitely not the real deal. An authentic version has directions and 24 fortunes printed on the reverse. The reverse of the offered game is blank, even though the verbiage on the front's bottom states, "The numbers refer to fortunes on the back of card." Additionally, authentic items are not made from heavy paper stock, but are made from a light-to-medium stock. If whomever bought this abomination reads this blog, return it for a full refund right away. 

02/11 Update: Happily, the buyer read my post and wisely decided not to consummate the transaction. The seller, by way of some explanation, burbled that she herself would be seeking a refund from the person she obtained it from. Uh huh.... 

Third Edition Price Increasing in Early March

Please note the change to the data on my new third edition:

Signed soft covers are $45, which includes domestic Media Rate shipping. Alternatively, if you’d like your softcover copy sent via domestic Priority Mail, the cost is $54. (If you are a California resident, please include an additional 8% or provide a valid CA resale number.)While supplies last, I am including a copy of the 2007 second edition with all domestic softcover orders, so order now. 

The price for a softcover third edition will increase to $50, still including domestic Media Rate shipping, in early March.

Vintage Halloween Cat With Devil Mask Die Cut Decoration

This diecut has always been one that I've appreciated. It is a clever design, made at a time (1940s) when Beistle's original output was spotty. Made from unusually thin paper stock, it is nearly impossible (impossible?) to find one in perfect condition. The one up for auction is in a typical condition for this diecut. Sustainable guide value is $225 for ones in better condition. 

02/13 Update: Given the condition, this fetched merely $67.66. 

Vintage Halloween Tin Metal OLD WITCH Noisemaker Sparkler Toy on CARD

This is an interesting listing, being the first time I've ever seen this witch face sparkler attached to a card. Typically, these sparklers were boxed. The card indicates some involvement by the Hale-Nass Corporation of New York, a firm that seems to have been in business from the 1930s through the 1980s. All of the documentation I have seen on this noisemaker says that the iterations made in the US were done by Ranger Steel Products Corporation of New York. I wonder what the connection my be between it and Hale-Nass? This item is quite common and has therefore been assigned a "5" on my Relative Scarcity Index. A flood of reproductions was made in Japan beginning in the 1960s. The ending price of $128.49 is quite high, doubtless driven by the heretofore unknown card.