These fortune place cards rarely come up for sale, especially when unused and complete. Made by Whitney in the 1920s, it would be fair to say that the market currently values these in the $65-70 price range, given that the seller offered five individually and ending within a short time of each other. This somewhat precise valuation for items that rarely appear seldom happens.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
RARE Vintage Halloween "Dennison's Bogie Book w/ Scary Cat & Pumpkin
This is a tough Bogie Book to acquire. This was published for the 1919 season. For some reason, similar to the 1916 edition, it almost never surfaces in near-mint or better condition. Even after all of these years the one in the collection, shown on page 101, could stand to be upgraded. The seller, new to eBay, made an error offering this for such a low price relative to guide value of $375.
VINTAGE DENNISON HALLOWEEN PARTY INVITATION, UNUSED
This is arguably among the very best invitations Dennison produced. I appreciate the many elements comprising what is a tranquil scene. I also like the bold blue used for the cauldron smoke. This invitation first appeared in the 1924 Bogie Book, stock number H87. If you collect unused Halloween ephemera, this is a great one to make part of your collection!
09/11 Update: This sold for an astounding $211.94!
Great Vintage Halloween Set of Four Dancing Black Cats
The seller is probably wondering if they put too low of a BIN price on this lot as it lasted less than 42 minutes. This interlocking centerpiece of four dancing cats was produced by Gibson during the late 1920s. It is unusual to find the envelope, no matter the condition, and to find that all of the cat's interlocking tabs are still present. Guide value is $175.
Vintage Halloween Cut Out Placecard. Black Cat, Owl & JOL. 1920's. Dennison?
The seller is correct that this is a wonderfully designed "best wishes" card. It wasn't made by Dennison but by Hallmark. This Kansas City firm issued a set of (I think) four different designs in the later 1920s, all with the back background and all meant to be folded like a tent card.
One Vintage Halloween ROSEN 50s Trix or Treats SKELETON MOON DANCE sucker card
As is so often the case when an auction ends at a puzzlingly high price, the unsustainable ending price of $142.50 for this smile-inducing Rosen Trix or Treats cards was brought on by two determined bidders. Remove the underbidder from the equation and this would have ended right around where it should have ended, $76.
Readers, for items like these cards that surface regularly, never pay more than right around guide value, which is $70. Although I do think this is the single best Halloween card Rosen issued, why pay such a premium? Sit back and be patient - for one will surface again soon enough.
Vtg Box of 12 Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Gummed Seals/Stickers USA Gibson Art 1920
I was glad to see this box of early 1920s JOL seals sell for what it did. Even without a photo showing the reverse of the box to see the factory marking indicating how many seals were originally sold as a set, and the general scruffiness of the box and seals, this early Gibson boxed product brought a respectable $30. Although I like Dennison boxed sets more, all else being equal, it is much harder to find Gibson boxed sets, especially complete ones. The market has been slow to recognize the value of Gibson boxed products although this has been changing over the last 2-3 seasons.
Vintage Halloween Invitation w/ Scary Witch, Black Bird & Cat
This seller, a frequent lister in this category, made an error in offering this rare and desirable tri-fold invitation for a paltry BIN of $28. This first appeared in Dennison's 1922 Bogie Book with a stock number of H82. The artwork and lettering are compelling. The fact that it was unused is a nice bonus. These typically change hands for $85 or more. I sure hope she lists another one for $28!
09/19 Update: An identical one from another seller sold on 09/18 for $192.39!
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CELLULOID WITCH PULLING PUMPKIN
Halloween celluloid in good condition, like this item, has been on a tear these last few months. This piece was made in Japan during the 1920s and rarely surfaces. The seller is a long-time collector who is knowledgeable and honest. Know that you can conduct business with her with absolute confidence. If you wish to see one of the best visual displays of Halloween celluloid, turn to pages 110-115 and feast your eyes.
09/09 Update: This great item sold for $542.89!
ANTIQUE/VINTAGE HALLOWEEN Tags in ORIGINAL Drawer BOX
Gibson produced this stunning seal design in the early 1920s. Much of Gibson's output in this boxed genre is fun but one-dimensional compared to the more thought-through designs Dennison typically released. (That said, I love the Gibson boxed products. They are much harder to find - and that makes the hunt all the more fun. Overall, I think they are currently under-valued in the market.) This design is an obvious exception. A sister design is shown at the upper left on page 264. Both are killer! Guide value for a full box of 20 seals is $250. This box had 8-10 damaged seals and an unfortunate blemish on the packaging. Therefore, the result seems right.
New Lantern Design from Tim Ramzyk of Pulp Novelties
Wow! I just received Tim Ramzyk's 2016 Halloween pulp lantern and LOVE it! As you know, it is rare that I tout anything but vintage items on this blog, but take a look at this scary lantern alongside two others I am so proud to own - a devil head and a witch head. Tim is a Wisconsin-based artist who meticulously and painstakingly hand molds his own designs from a heavy, durable pulp. Including 2016's Nosferatu (The Vampire), he has 6 designs in limited quantities at price points that are in a few words, way too cheap! The other designs are a witch, a devil, a skull, a JOL and a black cat. Just as I have always been, I am in awe at the workmanship and the true craft he brings to pulp design. I proudly have three of his treasures on exhibit in my main display room. (For those who I've been lucky to host at my home, you know that in order for something to be placed in that room, it has to carry its own weight. These do, easily.)
Tim is only making 14 Nosferatu (The Vampire) lanterns at first with a handful more to be made through the Halloween season if need be. The other designs are similarly limited. The price for Nosferatu is $95. (It measures ~7.5" high by ~6.5" deep.) The price for either the devil, JOL or black cat is $68. The price for either the skull or witch is $80. Having seen the meticulousness of these wondrous and limited edition objects, I can surely say these prices are way too cheap. (Hurry, order these quickly before Tim comes to his senses and raises them!)
By the way, Tim has created a steel stamp of his logo and has permanently branded his creations, as he has a healthy respect for protecting the vintage market. He numbers and dates each of his creations.
For those who know me, you know that I rarely buy anything Halloween unless it is vintage. I've made an exception - and you should too. Snap these up before they are ALL GONE by contacting Tim directly at pulpnovelties@aol.com. He lists these as well on eBay and Etsy.
09/04 Update: As I knew would happen, every last one of the first run of Tim's 2016 Nosferatu (The Vampire) lanterns has sold. Be sure to look at his lantern designs, now available, from the past few years. They are all worth owning.
Old Halloween Honeycomb Hallowe'en Dancing Witch 7-24 inch Stretch Org. Package
Beistle made this design for many seasons (1928-1937) so they come up for sale with some regularity. They typically change hands for $60 so the ending price here is puzzling. Yes, the presence of the near-plain glassine envelope is unusual but does it justify the huge premium seen in the ending price? I don't think so, but two determined bidders felt differently. I wonder if the underbidder is more relieved than unhappy? I know I'd be.
08/31 Update: The underbidder contacted me to say that she was indeed relieved not to have been the prevailing bidder. She bid her max amount never thinking someone would come in anywhere near that figure.
But here is the view of the buyer who is quite happy with the purchase - and isn't that what collecting is all about? "Your recent blog post, regarding the witch dancer and its original glassine envelope, has prompted my response. I was the prevailing bidder in this auction.
This is the earliest packaging I've seen-in all probability 1927-1929. Later output was housed in plain, unprinted glassine envelopes. Dull as it may be it is quite extraordinary to view nonetheless in its near mint condition. The glassine envelope is void of tears and crumpling -it's apparently perfect-which in my opinion is remarkable in and of itself.
This uniquely rare packaging variant in conjunction with a mint, unused, witch dancer certainly justifies the price realized. In my opinion this was a steal. In fact, if the underbidder hadn't been active, the prevailing bid would have been $71.99 -chump change."
Vintage Halloween Pulp Pumpkin JOL Lantern : White Small Skull
The seller is right - this lantern doesn't come up for sale too often. There isn't too much to remember it by. Plain as can be with minimal styling and with no insert ever produced for it, the unknown manufacturer didn't let any corner go uncut. Some collectors like the shock of white this does provide in a display cabinet otherwise dominated by black and orange, but I don't care for this lantern. My records indicate these typically trade in the $300 range - quite a bit for something so ho-hum.
09/05 Update: As my post indicates, I think this is a remarkably dull piece from what it could have been if produced by a company with a hint of imagination. I'm happy to see it only brought a third of what it has brought in the past.
1920's Rare Beistle Devil Diecut, Jointed
It is satisfying to see some real treasures amongst the dross that makes up this eBay category! I have seen this non-embossed diecut come available only a handful of times in my nearly 30 years of collecting. This diecut was produced by Beistle during the mid-1920s. There is a somewhat slightly more common variant Beistle produced without the tail, but I find it less interesting. The condition issues the seller conscientiously notes aren't concerning. If you appreciate iconic Beistle imagery, don't let this great piece slip by. I like the design so much I've included it in the Inner Sanctum section of the 3rd edition with a guide value of $325-375.
09/05 Update: This sold for an astounding $922! Looking at the bidding history, there were at least 7 different bidders who pushed it beyond guide value, indicating that that value may be much too low.
Complete Set 6 Dennison Owl Cut-Out Vintage Halloween Decorations with Box, 1923
Dennison is rightly best known for the myriad of superbly designed boxed sets of seals, cut-outs, illuminated silhouettes and the like they produced from about 1913 through the 1960s. (The best of their production happened from about 1916 through 1930.) Some of their slide boxes are difficult to find while others more steadily become available. As this fine seller states, complete near-mint or better boxed sets are becoming harder to find. This particular set tends to be seen more than others and the guide value reflects this. These typically trade for $95.
