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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Vintage Halloween Invitation Black Cat Driving Witch Owl

The level of detail of this invitation is amazing. This was produced by Whitney during the early 1920s. Because the invitation's clasps are so intricate and delicate, it is hard to find this in near-perfect or better condition. Whitney made a trio of these car invites. While this one is driven by a cat and features a witch and an owl as passengers, the others have different passengers with one car driven by a witch and the other by an owl. The latter two appear on page 280. I am proud to now own all three in near-mint or better condition. 

Early '50's HALLOWEEN Grinning Black CAT Candy Container-Party Hat-Orange Moon

This is a large and colorful identically dual-sided slot and tab candy holder made by an unknown manufacturer. I was only able to add one to the collection perhaps 5 years ago, so these are not plentiful. When I got it I was surprised at just what a powerful display item it is! This one looks to be in remarkable condition. I greatly appreciate the fine seller being very specific about condition. 

10/08 Update: This excellent candy holder sold for an astounding $347.98. SGV is $85. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN ORIGINAL 1920's BIESTLE WITCH BLACK CAT PARTY INVITATION

This is a really great pop-up Beistle invitation produced during the 1920s. There is a second pop-up design that I've almost never seen for sale. Made in the early 1930s, it features a scarecrow rather than a witch. I've wondered why it is seen so rarely, and conjecture that maybe that design was never sold in boxed or enveloped sets, but instead just singly, as Dennison did with many of their designs at this same time. Readers, have you ever seen a boxed/enveloped set of the scarecrow pop-ups? (A single can be seen at the top of page 223.) 

Halloween Germany Child's Tea Set, Handled small Tea Cup Saucer, 1908-1912

It is good to see quality porcelain tea set pieces surfacing right now. This handled cup and saucer is from the smallest set created by the Germans, called the child's tea set. (There were both medium-sized sets and adult-sized sets made as well.) Both elements of this listing are hard to find. Many more small non-handled cups survived relative to their handled brethren. The saucer's are much more difficult to find for some reason. Together they make an eye-catching addition to any display case. 
I gravitate most strongly to certain genres more than others, surely like all collectors. I like paper items like diecuts, table decorations, centerpieces and boxed Dennison and Gibson items. I also covet small-paper items like invitations, tallies and place cards, plus love these German porcelain items. I have grown lukewarm on lanterns and candy containers and have never been interested in pulp JOLs, German JOLs, costumes, treat bags and hard plastic. 
I project that over the next 10 years many collections from long-time collectors will come to market. Most of these collections are heavily weighted toward candy containers and lanterns, so it stands to reason that these genres will see a medium-term dip. From all of my travels and invitations to see the collections of those who began collecting in the sixties, seventies and eighties, I can say assuredly that it was the rare such collector who collected much paper. I am projecting (and actively acting on my projections) that the market for paper and small paper will remain strong while other genres cyclically fade over the next ten years. 

1930 HALLOWEEN SPOT WITCH GAME

Beistle copyrighted this game in 1930 and released it in 1932 in both enveloped and boxed versions. (Both are valued equally.) As I write on page 18, "I have been puzzled as to why this game doesn't seem to be very coveted. Admittedly, the contents are ho-hum but the artwork on the front of the packaging is compelling." SGV for an example in better condition than this one is $110. RSIN is 3. 

10/08 Update: This brought a surprisingly strong $201.50.

Vintage Halloween Clapper Germany

This seller offered several rare tin litho German noisemakers for a song - $39 each. This particular listing ended less than 8 minutes after activation. I wish I would have seen these listings. (This is a busy time of the year for me.) Another example of why one should use an auction format unless there is an excellent handle on current pricing. 

Antique, Vintage Halloween Tin Litho Metal 1920's Lid, Top, Witch, Cat, Owl

The seller of this fine cymbal visited me at the A Bewitching Fete show held this past Friday evening and Saturday in Pleasanton, California. (It is the one show at which I sell during the year.) The show was crowded and my table was routinely busy, probably because I was the only seller deeply stocked with vintage items. The seller wondered what I thought the ending price would be. I said it should bring no less than ~$150, which seemed to pleasantly surprise her. She must be over the moon with this result. 

Antique HALLOWEEN Cardboard PUMPKIN WAGON Toy Pair

I received an email today asking if these were reproductions. They aren't. For some reason, the bane of our hobby, those who reproduce vintage items and try to pass them off as old, haven't wrapped their repellent claws around this design yet. This slot and tab candy holder was intermittently made by the Dolly Toy Company of Dayton, Ohio from 1934 through 1953. This design is less common than the witch and the black cat carts shown on page 53. SGV is $250. 

10/06 Update: This pair sold at a discount for $305.99.