The prevailing bidder made a smart purchase of this rare enveloped set, although the price ended higher than I would have forecast. Beistle made three iterations of the smallest of their Johnny Pumpkin family of diecuts. The ones sold in this lot represent the third and rarest of the iterations. As I write on page 123, "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." These were made during the span 1923-1925. The set shown in the reference was made later during that range, while this one was made earlier during that range. How is this determined? Beistle's first inclination was to issue things in somewhat plain envelopes, with envelopes getting more ornate during the production run. Check out the differences.
Blog
Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Halloween Clock Beistle 1923 Very Rare Nice Shape
This 1923 fairy clock diecut manufactured by Beistle is a real eye-catcher. Imposing, brightly colored and pretty far out there in terms of overall imagery, this diecut doesn't come up for sale very often - perhaps twice a year on eBay. With all that in mind, I was surprised that it didn't fetch more. The seller did a good job at pointing out the blemishes, and there were many, but all in all I would have expected this to fetch in the $500-600 range.
Pre-War Japan Old Fashioned Telephone Candy Container
The seller should have a hard time moving this for his BIN price of $625. These kinds of Japanese items were cheaply made and look cheap. The Japanese tried to emulate the German designs and utterly failed. These sorts of vintage items have not developed strong values in the resale market for as long as I've collected. I don't expect this to change.
antique papermachie paper card board Germany Halloween OWL clacker noise maker
The Germans produced several different clapper designs during the 1920s, all the same in the way they were assembled - two identical diecuts affixed to an orange shaped cardboard paddle. What some collectors don't know is that more often than not these diecuts were painted to look distressed. What a casual observer may conclude is wear actually isn't. You can see other clapper designs on page 196.
Original 1940's Flaming Halloween Fortune Tissue Candle Holder
Beistle produced this game in the very early 1930s. Its graphics and just overall appeal as a game is underwhelming. Prices for the complete games have been drifting downward for nearly a decade as collectors reach the same conclusion. The seller incorrectly assumes the three-sided lantern was part of the set. The lantern was made around the same time but by an entirely different company, The Gibson Art Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.
07/22 Update: This lot brought $325.20, with the significant majority of the value tied up in the rare cardboard envelope for this rather dull game. This is typically seen with a glassine envelope.
VINTAGE 1920's 1930's HALLOWEEN Cardboard Standing Black Cat SQUEAKER NOISEMAKER
This cat squeaker has long been a puzzler. There aren't maker's marks and I can see no characteristics present that would provide a clue as to the maker. There were two designs that are quite similar that I feel were issued at the same time. Whether they were produced by the same manufacturer or by competitors is unknown. The other design has more personality and seems to surface a tad less frequently. To see it, please refer to page 211. (I will say that the current price of $180 is not understandable, given its overall availability and its pretty terrible condition.)
07/17 Update: I was surprised to see this end at $198.50, far above what I felt it would bring based on condition.
Happy 4th of July!
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!
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.
