Blog

Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Tin Halloween Jack O' Lantern Parade Pumpkin Lantern Vintage

Several others have posted about this on the FB Vintage Halloween group, conveying their knowledge to the seller that this is a reproduction designed by Bruce Elsas and manufactured by Bethany Lowe about 7 years ago. The seller has refused to alter the listing in any way. I, myself, just sent an email to the seller (through Ebay) repeating what others have conveyed, plus letting them know it would be the subject of a blog post. I'd like to think that the seller is simply a naif rather than someone with ill intent. I'll monitor this listing. If nothing changes, I'll assume the seller is more of the latter than the former. This item, made in China, has decorative value only. DO NOT BE FOOLED!

08/08 Update: The seller never responded to my email, nor have they altered their listing in any way. The seller, regkel4, appears to be brazenly dishonest. 

08/12 Update: Some poor schmuck wasted $445 on this item, made by Bethany Lowe about 7 years ago. SHAME ON THIS DECEPTIVE SELLER! 

1940's Beistle Co Die Cut Laughing Donut Sitting On A Coffee Mug Cup WOW!

Beistle was truly scraping the very bottom of the creative barrel with most of the diecuts in the set to which this belongs. What does a laughing donut balanced on a coffee cup have anything to do with Halloween? 

08/05 Update: A faithful reader just filled me in on why Beistle would have included this design in a Halloween diecut set. Let Carol tell you in her own words:

"Hi Mark, about the doughnut.....You've probably been clued in already, if so please excuse me. In the old movie, "Meet Me In Saint Louis", there is a Halloween scene where the kids are given doughnuts instead of candy. Also, the returning GIs were quite taken with coffee and doughnuts because of the USO. Halloween didn't really go to the kids until the 50's. So, I guess a laughing doughnut in a cup of coffee was very Halloween-like.
Love your blog!"

I love information like this! Thanks so much for the information! You're a regular Nancy Drew!

08/09 Update: Another long-time reader shared her insight as to this diecut and the memories it conjures for her. Let Lisa tell you in her own words: 

"I really liked your post on the infamous coffee and doughnut die cut that surfaces on ebay now and again. I think that your reader was correct. It's an old time thing to be sure. When I was a little girl ( quite a long time ago ) there was an old Victorian house at the end of our street where 2 little old ladies lived. Every Halloween they would open up the doors and invite all of the children inside for their Halloween treats. The house was fantastic and filled with lots of really old things. There in the kitchen next to a huge, black cast iron stove there was a long table decorated with all manner of early Halloween decorations. The treats that they served were mugs of hot tea ( coffee for the grownups ) and platters of doughnuts. They always maintained that when they were young, that's what was proper fare for Halloween. I just loved going there but nearly all of the other kids didn't like it at all. They wanted to collect huge bags of candy and not stand around wasting time in some spooky old house eating stupid donuts with 2 little old ladies. The crowd dwindled but I continued to go there nearly every Halloween for many years... into adulthood. It is the very best memory in the world and the reason why I still love ( and collect ) Halloween today. Thanks to you and your reader ( and that silly little die cut ) for bringing that to mind today."
 

Vtg Die-Cut Black Americana Musician JOL Halloween Decoration 15.5" Germany Rare

This is a rare diecut, indeed, evidenced by its already strong price with over 2 full days to run on the auction. This is among  relative handful of German diecuts made in 1935 and shipped only to eastern Canada before the outflow of holiday goods from Germany was shut down for good until 1946. There are four designs comprising this set. You can see two of them in my book's third edition on page 171. 

08/05 Update: This sold for a strong $472.77. I say "strong" based on its poor condition. 

Vintage Halloween German Paper Mache Candy Containers NR

Someone wasted $200 plus shipping on this foursome. Contrary to the seller's claim that these are "vintage," whatever that means, these items weren't made prior to ~2000. They have decorative value only. I hope the buyer kissed those dollars goodbye before sending them down the drain. (I notice that the seller, as is so often the case, offers no definition of the word "vintage.") 

BOX FOR EMBOSSED GERMAN HALLOWEEN DIECUTS~1920'S~VERY EARLY DESIGNS~NO.669/45

Original boxes showcasing the various ways German diecuts were bundled and sold are quite a hot sub-genre at the moment. I sold one in my May auction (I'll be conducting another auction on this site in May 2016, again only open to those who have purchased a copy of my third edition.) for $425 and this very energetic box fetched $488.14. I've only seen this box design twice in 25 years of collecting. This very box, identifiable from the written markings, was sold on Ebay in early 2013, according to the photographic archives I've assembled, and now once again in 2015. An identical box, in better condition, sold in October of 2013. Other than these two examples, I've not seen this box design before. Kudos to both the seller - one of my favorites - and the buyer. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN MECHANICAL DIECUT TALLY~1920's~PROBABLY WHITNEY

This mechanical tally is such a cool item! The kinds of things produced in those long-past decades really had ingenuity. The maker is harder to pin down. Whitney seldom marked anything beyond their postcards, so the tip of the hat goes to that firm, out of business in the early 1940s, to be the maker. However, it could be from another manufacturer like Volland, Henderson Line, Rustcraft, etc. Both Beistle and Dennison can be eliminated, as can be Gibson. However, bottom line is that this is a great item that will strengthen any collection of tallies. I've never been able to locate one for the collection, evidenced by the one in my third edition coming from the inestimable Bobbie Lasky collection. (Bobbie is one of a handful of top-tier Halloween collectors in the United States.) 

Tin jack o lantern circa 1880-1900 approx.

This design was made in Toledo, Ohio starting in ~1905. It is the most common of the designs. Denuded like this, the sustainable value isn't more than the current bid level. (Since the profiling of one of these on American Pickers, prices have greatly risen, but I don't feel this increase is sustainable.)

08/02 Update: This item ended at $404, quite strong for something in this denuded condition. 

Vintage Die-Cut Black Crow Halloween Decoration 7.5" Germany

Ebay has largely become a junkyard but now and then a wonderful piece does turn up - like this exceedingly rare German crow diecut. Heavily embossed, this design simply doesn't surface often, especially in this seemingly flawless condition. The mate to it, showing a crow in three-quarter profile, is much more common. Made during the 1920s, both members of the set can be seen on page 172. 

07/27 Update: Wow!! This rare diecut brought a very strong $440. 

Paper Mache Pulp Devil Lantern FN Burt 1930s VF+, Near Mint, Original Insert

This great lantern is being offered by a very knowledgeable collector and a long-time friend, so you can bid with absolute confidence. F.N. Burt Company of Buffalo, NY was a prolific producer of pulp goodies for a wide range of holidays. I feel their Halloween items were some of their best output. This devil head lantern with its original insert is a desirable and eye-catching one to have amidst your displays. Too many sellers these days offer poor photos, then stipulate that said photos are part of the description, so I appreciate Jason's clear pictures. 

07/27 Update: This super devil head lantern brought a very strong $393.89. Kudos!