I've not seen this tin litho noisemaker design before. (Interestingly, a rattler with the same design as this clanger ended yesterday.) Tin noisemakers as a genre have been left for dead this past decade, but when some rare design surfaces collectors are not loath to open their pocketbooks. This was a strong result for an awesome seller.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
JUMBO 18 1/2" Halloween black cat, embossed die cut w/ easel back, USA - NR
Given the enormity of this diecut and its scalloped edges, the condition issues the seller points out are insignificant. Beistle made a group of five of these large, scalloped-edged diecuts beginning in the early 1930s. (This cat, a broomed witch, an arched-backed cat and an owl all appear on pages 149-150.) Of the five, one design almost never surfaces - the skeleton in the graveyard shown on page 137. Even though all five were marketed for many years, the skeleton is so coveted that the last time one surfaced, in October of 2014, it sold for ~$3500. I have yet to hear a theory as to its rarity that makes sense.
Vintage Halloween Wooden Handle Ratchet Tin Noisemaker Made In USA
This ratchet was produced by Bugle Toy of Providence, Rhode Island. Item for item, Bugle made the most interesting, avant-garde designs of the major manufacturers. The overall number of their tin designs was small but collectors covet them, so prices have been firm, very different from most tin litho noisemakers that have seen sharp price declines. Sometimes Bugle had the wood handle at the witch's hat, as in this example, and sometimes at the base of the JOL. Placement is not material to value.
(4) 1920's BEISTLE CO. JOHNNY PUMPKIN HEAD BROWNIE, UNUSED, EXCELLENT CONDITION
We'll be seeing a fair number of these ~8" Beistle Johnny Pumpkins as there was an auction last week in Twin Falls, Idaho wherein several lots containing multiples - all unused - were sold. The auction house used my site for research but didn't think to alert me to the auction until the day after it ended. What is notable about this Johnny Pumpkin is that it demonstrates how careless Beistle was in their manufacture. As I write on page 122, "Beistle was seemingly not prepared for the success of this line and cranked them out with limited quality control relative to exactly how the designs by size were replicated." So, look at the hand holding the cat's paw. Part of the paw, part of the hand and part of the lace is missing. This isn't a flaw in the condition, but a flaw in the manufacturing.
Vintage 1920's Halloween Tri-Fold Diecut Fireplace Screen Germany
I think the seller overstated the condition issues present with this fireplace screen. Its unwieldy size makes it much more prone to damage than smaller items. I think the condition is actually pretty good. I feel the buyer got a nice bargain at $1142. Ones in near-mint condition mostly bring around the $2500 mark.
Vintage Halloween Pumpkin Head Girl Pressed Paper Pulp Made in Germany 1930's
At this time of the year the listings in the Vintage Halloween category swell dramatically with much of it forgettable, newly made things that should be listed elsewhere. So, it is nice to see some gems scattered amongst the garbage. This "JOL maid with bangs" diecut was made in Germany during the 1920s. Its RSIN is 2 as it doesn't surface much. This looks to be bright overall with a hint of fading only to the extremes of the one side. This ~8.25" beauty makes a statement in a display. I like that the seller started it at a reasonable $20 and trusts in the auction format. Sustainable guide value is $165.
RARE VINTAGE GERMAN HEAVILY EMBOSSED DIE CUT-JOINTED BLACK CAT
When I first saw this I thought something about it didn't look right. What threw me is the use of rivets, rarely seen with German diecuts. The only other example I can think of is with the various sized skeleton diecuts the Germans produced. Even though it is probably vintage, I don't like it much. The styling looks stilted and awkward. The upright stance of the cat was rendered far better in the Hobo Cat diecut seen on page 130. It will be interesting to see what this poorly realized diecut fetches.
Vintage Glass Pumpkin Head Jar - Old Halloween Collectible
SCORE!! Someone, not me, made a very lucky purchase. This poor Kansas seller underestimated the value of this cold-painted glass JOL jar. Even in this typical condition with much missing paint these haul in ten to fifteen times the price they placed on this as a BIN.
HALLOWEEN TABLE PIECE, GREAT COLORS AND GRAPHIC
Beistle produced this great table decoration for a single season, 1955, and gave it limited distribution for some reason. They issued two designs, with this one being the more interesting. (Turn to page 233 to see both designs and to see if you agree with my opinion.) I am not keen on the sparse description offered by this seller, nor with their characterization of this one being in "almost perfect" condition. However, this is an item that comes up for sale very rarely, so some collectors may be OK with overlooking condition. Sustainable guide value is $375 for one in better condition.
09/20 Update: This one fetched $370.77.
RARE ANTIQUE HALLOWEEN PAPER MACHE JACK-O-LANTERN CANDY CONTAINER 3 1/2"
I was watching this listing, interested to note where it ended. Given that the item has none of the charm, whimsy or sophistication of its brethren shown on pages 58-60, I didn't expect it to fetch much.
Original Vintage 1920s DENNISON 9.5 inch Halloween green SKULL mask diecut
This mask was actually made by Gibson sometime during the later 1920s, and represents the company recycling a design that was used as one of their Partipuzzles. Look at the puzzle on page 22 to see what I mean.
Halloween Cat Banjo In Pumpkin Embossed Die-cut Germany
I was buckled in tight for the ride but didn't see that last sharp turn on the roller coaster. I knew this spectacularly rare German diecut would go for gobs o' cash but not that many gobs! Listen, I've been around the vintage Halloween market for nearly three decades and have seen hundreds of private collections, hundreds of brick-and-mortar auctions listings and tens of thousands of on-line listings and I have NEVER seen this particular diecut or anything remotely similar. The seller bought out a huge collection from the estate of a quite elderly and very long-time holiday collector from somewhere in the upper Midwest and has been smartly selling things off for years. This is surely one of the diecuts made around 1935 and sold only to eastern Canada. Given the extreme rarity, perhaps this represents one of the final diecuts from that batch of designs that is characterized by an aggressively out-there design aesthetic. I love items from that final year and they are hard to come by. This is in a league all its own. I decided this morning not to bid as I felt it would go to ~$3500. There are many other great paper items I can and will pick up for that sum. Imagine my shock when my phone began to light up with text after text from collector friends who wondered my opinion on the price threshold. My opinion is simple: for items that are truly unique, the sky is the limit. I wasn't willing to go to the outer edges of the atmosphere for this item, but I congratulate whomever did! It will absolutely be the star of the show, the belle of the ball and all that!
Antique Original 1915 Dennison's Bogie Book Halloween Decorations w/ Envelope
When it rains it pours! Funny how things work. When I bought the one in the collection 3-4 years ago I had never seen one before in any reference or in any collection. One was listed a few weeks ago and now this third one has surfaced. The set that ended recently sold for a reasonable $838 but the enclosure was in arguably lesser condition.
09/18 Update: This sold for $809.99. The sustainable value tracks closely with guide value of $775 for both items - the Bogie Book itself and the exceedingly rare enclosure.
Vintage Halloween Paper Mache Pulp Cat-On-A-Fence JOL, ca. 1940s, All-Original
I just had a conversation with two close friends who visited today regarding the many crazy, unsustainable prices being seen lately for otherwise ordinary vintage Halloween items. The tulip mania or bubble of the 1600s was mentioned. Are we in a bubble phase wherein unremarkable and imperfect items are bid to - let me say it - ridiculous levels that I feel are unhealthy for the overall hobby? This pulp lantern is so common that nary a week goes by that you can't have your choice of several. The typical trading range is around the $150 level. Why would this go for $385? Now, I am happy for the seller who assuredly cannot believe her good fortune, but the buyer will almost certainly never again see this price when, and if, they ever decide to sell.
Rare Halloween Fortune Teller Game Witch Black Cat Owl Brownie Made in Germany
There was a time when what this seller is offering this great game for would be a steal. Those days are gone for a few more years, at least. As I write on page 125, "About 20 of these were discovered in an old drugstore in Kentucky and were sold at auction in Ohio several years ago. These have been filtering into the marketplace since, greatly reducing the value of this item for the short and medium terms." I feel that $1,100 to $1,200 is the current market value of a mint example of this game - long one of my favorite items.
