There sure hasn't been a lot to comment on lately, not surprising since this is typically the doldrums for vintage Halloween listings. Given this, I am going to take a short break to focus on some other projects. Look for new posts in mid-July. Until then, enjoy the 4th!
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Vintage Halloween Porcelain Pumpkin Face Creamer - Germany!
I received a number of emails from readers asking if I felt this was a German item, rather than one made in Japan. Given the nice photos, it was easily discerned to be German. There are only a small number of pieces that were made by both countries. As I write on page 119, "The Japanese seem to have copied only a few items: the lidded teapot, the lidded sugar, the creamer, plain waste bowls and medium-sized cups without handles." Japanese pieces have a pebbled surface - some output more than others. The expressions also seem to be goofy. It is hard to explain these expressions, but as Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once wrote in a case, Jacobellis v. Ohio, "...I know it when I see it..."
2 Assorted VINTAGE 1930's HALLOWEEN Party Place Cards w/ Black Cat, Moon
The place card on the right was made by Whitney during the 1930s and is one of six that comprise a complete set. Unfortunately, it has been trimmed, which greatly reduces value. Each place card from this set should have six complete fence posts. Bear this in mind if you are inclined to bid on this lot. To see the complete set, turn to page 273.
Vintage Halloween Tambourine - U.S. Toy Co. - Jack-O'-Lantern with Witch
Too bad there is so much rust on this rare tambourine, one of the better designs out there. This Art Deco inspired noisemaker was manufactured by T. Cohn of Brooklyn, New York, sometime during the 1930s. It has an RSIN of 2, so you know it doesn't surface often. Guide value in near-perfect condition is $375, but I doubt this well-loved piece will approach that figure.
Vintage Halloween Adult Paper Party Hat Skeleton Black Cat Witch Dennison???
This hat wasn't made by Dennison, but was an unlicensed amalgam of imagery from at least two manufacturers - Dennison and Bugle. I'd guess that this was made in Japan in the later 1950s or into the early 1960s. The seller is offering it as a BIN for $15, a price point that I feel fully values the item.
Vintage Halloween Owl, Black Cat and Pumpkins Bridge Tally - Hallmark - HTF!
The seller's description of this tally as being hard-to-find is a welcome understatement. I love paper and wasn't able to acquire one of these until recently. As tallies go, this is royalty. It is large, very colorful and a rare example of Hallmark producing an exquisite Halloween item. Because of the many pointed edges on this masterpiece, to find one in near-perfect condition or better is challenging. I would expect that this design gem would bring a price several multiples of the opening.
07/01 Update: This brought $304.88, a perfectly ridiculous price driven to the never-to-be-repeated stratosphere by two determined, if not addled, bidders.
Kokomold Rosbro Halloween Plastic Orange Upright Witch on a Rocket
I've never been a fan of hard plastic but will admit that many of the Kokomold designs were off-beat enough and were made in relatively small quantities that I regret passing on acquiring them when prices were so cheap. When I began collecting back in 1988, this design could have been purchased for around $15-20. The eBay screen misleadingly indicates that this sold for $600, but a BIN offer of $465 was accepted by the seller.
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN BEISTLE LAUGHING MOON DONUT & MUG ORIGINAL DIE CUT DECORATION
Beistle was desperate for a spark of creativity when they included this decidedly non-Halloween diecut as part of a diecut set they issued in the late 1940s. I've never understood their decision, but feel it indicates they were running on fumes at that time.
Vintage Lot of 6 Halloween Die Cut & paper Hat, lanternd & blowers-USA/Germany
The star of this lot, by far, is the triangular hat. Made before WWI by a German firm, their output is maddeningly elusive. The hats were made from very thin paper stock, so they are nearly always thrashed when they surface. This hat was in the finest condition I've seen in years. I was tempted by it, but the condition still falls short of the mark for acquisition. If you turn to page 137, you can see four treat satchels that were produced by the same firm.
Halloween Antique: JACK-O-LANTERN GERMAN WOODEN RATCHET NOISEMAKER, 1910's-20's
Exercise much caution when purchasing these decorated German wood ratchets. The plain ratchets themselves were made in huge quantities, and many remain extant. What some dealers do is marry a plain, vintage wood ratchet with a vintage, but otherwise not connected, Halloween decoration and sell the resulting union as an original. Now, I don't believe that was done for the item shown here that sold for $189, but this marrying frenzy is something to keep in mind when you are shopping for items in this genre.
SCARCE Vintage Halloween Witch of Endor Fortune Telling Game, Salem Mass., 1929
The graphics on this game are so excellent and evocative of my favorite season that I've long been puzzled why it typically doesn't bring strong dollars. Trust me, this game looks awesome in a display cabinet. It was made by a now obscure manufacturer with fairly limited distribution muscle resulting in its RSIN of 3.
06/24 Update: I am so glad to see that this great game finally received the love I've felt it has long deserved. It sold for $316.99, the highest price for this game according to my records.
Vintage Halloween Plastic Roly Poly Goblin ~ Old & Cool!
Along with so many other genres, vintage Halloween celluloid seems to be on fire. (For an awesome visual display of some of the finest celluloid designs out there, look at pages 110-115.) I contacted some close friends to see if they were the prevailing bidder, but they were aced out by another friend. Maybe the next time I swing down to southern California, I can see this rare and appealing item for myself.
Vintage Paper Mache Halloween BLACK CAT CANDY Bucket Antique YELLOW EYES GERMANY
This beat-up pulp cat head lantern made in the United States actually sold for $80! Based on my personal experience running my auction as well as following what items are currently selling for on many on-line sites, vintage Halloween prices seem to be stronger than ever. Given the plethora of collecting categories that have plummeted in value (Hummels, Jim Beam decanters, Avon bottles, "brown" furniture - anyone? anyone?...) vintage Halloween items have held up like a wedding night woody. I never stop being amazed at the heights to which prices for good items inexorably climb.
Vintage Emkay Witch O Lantern Halloween Candle in Box #268
Candle boxes weren't often kept so the manufacturing and/or marketing details for such ephemeral items have largely been lost, making this listing exciting - if for no other reason. I haven't seen this particular candle design often, but I love the name the manufacturer dreamed up, Witch-O-Lantern. The asking price with a BIN option seems reasonable.
06/17 Update: It sold for a "bargainish" price of $25.
Cardboard Halloween Black Cat Sitting
When I saw that a Canada-based dealer was listing 1930s Beistle diecuts from their set with saw-toothed or scalloped perimeters I was momentarily hopeful we'd see arguably the most elusive (and mysteriously so...) Beistle diecut of all - the skeleton in the graveyard. Alas, disappointment. (To see the diecut to which I refer, turn to page 137.) The last time one was listed was late September of 2014 - and it sold for an astonishing ~$3,350. I was down at Disneyland the evening it sold. Present in my party was someone who wanted it badly, and who had placed an aggressive bid. Not prevailing upon the lot made my friend disheartened, but one will surely show up again. Beistle is the benchmark for design and quality relative to American made diecuts. Their typical output had a gravitas to them that the Dennison and Gibson diecuts generally lack.
