Here's another cautionary tale relative to items offered by uninformed sellers as a BIN. This diecut doesn't surface as often as some others from the set in collectible condition, so when one does pop up, they command far more than $22.50. (I sold one in better condition in my recent auction that fetched $140.) These errant BIN offerings do provide an avenue for wily collectors to expand their treasured holdings. I am all too happy to swoop in when something is offered with a too-low BIN. If you are unsure when listing something on eBay, just list it as a 7-day auction with a modest starting price and see where the market takes it.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
A Nice Vacation...
I've been on a much needed vacation for the last 10 days, neglecting everything except my good friends in the heartland of the country, including my site. I'm back now and intend on posting regularly.
I sure wish eBay would limit how many times items can be listed and relisted without change. Having ignored eBay during my vacation, it hit me fresh just how much junk clutters up the Vintage Halloween category. There are too many fakes, Frankensteined items, items listed for prices that ignore condition and items with poor photos and/or descriptions only Piet Mondrian would appreciate.
The venues through which to obtain quality vintage Halloween are shrinking. eBay used to be my go-to place, but increasingly I rely on private offers and trades with other principled collectors to expand the collection. I typically avoid the auction houses like Bertoia and Morphy as their offerings are not curated and their buyers' premiums are laughable.
I'm glad that I began collecting when I did. For you newer collectors and those still wishing to expand at a good clip, develop relationships with those routinely selling quality vintage Halloween items, and don't hesitate to cut loose those who sell fakes or Frankensteined items. Deal only with those who keep their word, accurately describe their offerings and guarantee the ability to return something if an item later proves to be problematic.
RARE LARGE 10" 1920's GERMANY HALLOWEEN WITCH CRESCENT MOON EMBOSSED DIECUT MINT
What?? I understand the concept of a "mint premium" but this result is stupefying. These routinely surface and typically fetch about $100.
Antique HALLOWEEN Chalkware Figure WITCH & PUMPKIN Jack o Lantern
This is an apt example of the relationship of condition to value. This 1920s German compo candy container is one of a small set of finely crafted and detailed items made during the decade. (The other one in the collection can be seen on page 65.) Without doubt, one in near-perfect condition would bring ~$600 and up. One of my collecting rules is to buy only the best and pass on items in less than very fine condition, like this one. Else, you'll spend additional funds down the line upgrading what is, in essence, a placeholder. I'd rather have an empty spot in a collecting cabinet that have it filled with a place holder.
HALLOWEEN JOL,PRESSED CARDBOARD,CANDY CONTAINER, WEST GERMANY, 1920'S
This seller, like most people these days, has a tenuous grasp of history. The listing states that the candy container, with a West Germany mark on the bottom, was made in the 1920s. The Federal Republic of Germany, more commonly known as West Germany, was founded in May of 1949. This candy container almost certainly dates to the 1950s, but certainly does not date to the 1920s. Candy containers and other German made items manufactured after WWII have little value relative to their older brethren. The seller lists this with a BIN of $225. The more probable value is $85-100.
Halloween Decoration Dated 1925 Fan-Out Tissue On Cardboard Witch//Pumpkin
Beistle produced these small honeycombed favor baskets in four designs from 1927 through 1931. Although they are seldom seen, this design is arguably the best and most coveted of the four. The seller describes it as having a lot of wear, but I would say the condition is average for one of these delicate objects. The entire set is shown at the bottom of page 225.
06/11 Update: This sold for $138.50.
Vintage Halloween German Pumpkin Germany Jack O' Lantern Tea Set Old Sugar Bowl
Pieces from this Halloween tea set were made intermittently from 1908 through 1932. Pieces with this mark were made only from 1908 through 1913, so this is an early sugar bowl. These typically change hands for ~$350, so this seller left money on the table through the choice of offering this as a BIN, even with the minor imperfections described.
Vintage Rare BUTTERFINGER CANDY BAR BOX Curtiss HALLOWEEN Antique ADVERTISING!
As regular readers know, the Halloween decorations and related ephemera I collect tend to be from the 1920s and 1930s rather than from anytime in the 1960s, as I prefer the design aesthetics then in vogue. However, this 1960 Butterfinger's candy box is compelling. I like the graphics, especially the way the wrapped candy bars appear to be so readily grabbable! I can see that these commercially manufactured candy boxes could become a hot sub-genre. This great box sold for only $65 plus shipping, so this sub-genre right now seems to be an inexpensive toehold into the wider, more expensive world of vintage Halloween collectibles.
Vintage Halloween flying owl--wings flap-
These owl decorations were made by Gibson in the early 1930s. They were made in two sizes. These appear to be the smaller of the two sizes. The larger design measures ~7.25" high by ~6.75" wide by ~11" long. The larger one typically trades for $65.
06/05 Update: The prevailing bidder got a bargain scooping these up for $56.69.
VINTAGE BEISTLE HALLOWEEN JOHNNY PUMPKIN HEAD WITH STAND
The Johnny Pumpkin family of decorations was made by Beistle during a short window of 1919-1922, except for this size, the smallest of the litter, which was made in three variations through 1925. This is an example of the third variant, which I describe on page 123 this way: "This is the final variant of this size. These are smaller, brighter and have no easels. Instead, there is a prop that unfolds from the side enabling the item to stand. This was sold with stock number 514."
Vintage Cat halloween paper mache candy container
The seller listed this as a BIN - and did so without knowing or caring what the market price is for this hard-to-find pulp lantern, evidenced by the fact that the listing was live for a scant 21 minutes before some lucky and discerning buyer scooped it up, no doubt with a big smile.
Antique Halloween Paper Mache Pumpkin
This slot and tab cardboard (not paper-mache) lantern was made by the Dolly Toy Company of Dayton, Ohio sometime during the span of 1935 through the 1950s. They were made in varying sizes and all are quite common, having an RSIN of 5. Other sizes can be seen on page 31. Given the handle of the seller, he leaves much unsaid, like the dimensions of the item, obvious though they are not.
2016 Auction a Great Success!
Thanks to all those many collectors at all levels who participated in my May 2016 auction! The preview began on April 24th and the auction itself concluded on May 8th. The event was comprised of 103 lots and all but 8 sold. I had many more bidders this year than last. I hope everyone had as much fun participating as I had administering!
The aftermath has taken my time away from regularly updating the blog, but now that the invoices have been generated, payments processed and all the precious treasures carefully packed and shipped, I should be able to turn my attentions to the blog on a much more regular basis.
VINTAGE 1920'S GERMAN DIE CUT EMBOSSED HALLOWEEN JACK O LANTERN WITH BLACK CAT
This diecut is what I call a mini, and it is part of a set of six designs shown on page 185. (Although there are 6 main designs, often there are minor variations in the mold, so knowledgeable collectors scrutinize these mini-diecuts looking for those subtle differences.) Pieces from this set routinely fetch $225-250 and up, so this result is a true fluke and resulted in some person getting VERY lucky in acquiring it for a pittance. This mini-diecut set is one of the very few examples of these deeply embossed German diecuts to be made after WWII. They are typically marked to reflect the specific occupied zone in which they were made, and virtually all came with these black props. There are 1 or 2 people who believe these diecuts were made through the 1980s, just as there are those who still believe the Earth is flat or that the moon landings were faked. If you hear such nonsense, laugh and move on.
ANTIQUE HALLOWEEN BASKETS, 1925 (3) FAN-OUT TISSUE ON CARDBOARD, CATS, PUNKINS
I feel whomever prevailed upon this listing got a real bargain. Vintage Beistle material is hard-to-find and typically brings very strong prices. To find honeycomb items in the condition the seller states is unusual, so I am mystified as to why this trio didn't bring stronger dollars, especially considering there have been so many recycled listings on eBay for so long.
