New Lantern Design From Tim Ramzyk of Pulp Novelties!

Wow! I just received Tim Ramzyk's 2018 Halloween pulp lantern, The Goblin, 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 captivating and unsettling lantern.

Tim is a Wisconsin-based artist who meticulously and painstakingly hand molds his own designs from a heavy, durable material. Including this year's true treat, The Goblin ($120), he has 6 designs in limited quantities at price points that are in a few words, way too cheap! The other designs are Nosferatu the Vampire ($120), The Witch ($110), The Skull ($110), The JOL ($90) and The Black Cat ($90).  He has just a handful of The Black Cat left. Tim tells me that once they're gone the design will be retired.

I am in awe at the workmanship and the true craft Tim brings to pulp design. I proudly have now five 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.) 

Having seen the meticulousness of these wondrous and limited edition objects, I can surely say the prices cited above are way too cheap. (Hurry, order quickly before Tim comes to his senses and raises them!) By the way, Tim numbers each of his creations, but better yet, impresses his seal into the base of each lantern. (Check out the last photo to see the impressed seal.)

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 began listing his awesome creations yesterday on Etsy. Tim tells me that he plans to sell any and all Halloween designs only through the third week in October, or until his castings for this year are depleted, whichever comes first.

Halloween German Mini-diecuts, Cat by JOL Heavily Embossed, with Easel

Wow, here’s yet another result that indicates the vintage Halloween market is getting a bit too frothy. Although this mini-diecut isn’t commonly found, it surfaces enough that a selling price of $810 is simply not sustainable.

The Goldbergs On ABC Halloween Episode 10/24

Key production personnel on this long-running ABC comedy are lovers of vintage Halloween memorabilia. I was recently contacted to give formal permission for them to “…copy and enlarge collected decorations from the book Vintage Halloween Collectibles 3rd Edition…” I happily signed the “Props/Set Dressing/Artwork/Wardrobe Release” and have been told that whatever they harvested will be shown on The Goldbergs Halloween show scheduled to air on Wednesday, October 24th. I’ll be watching!

When A Listing Has Ended.....

eBay is trying to make it harder for interested parties to see details of finished listings. 

eBay's latest trick is to show you a completely different item than the finished item you clicked on. If you want details of finished listings or if you have clicked on a finished listing directly from my site, follow these instructions when the completely different active item pops up:  

At the top of the page showcasing the different active item you will see in a text block this wording, "The listing you’re looking for has ended." 

At the right of this text block, simply click on the "View Original Item" button. 

That's all there is to it!

Vintage German Halloween Pumpkin Jar

If I were to sell my collection, this segment of the market - the German porcelain Halloween tea set and its sundry assorted delights - would be the last to go. Made in two grand phases, 1908 through 1913 by Craemer & Heron, then by unknown manufacturers from 1913 through 1932, the diversity of their designs delights me. I’ve never seen this handled jug. The price paid was hefty, but there surely are a mere handful of these in existence, especially in this pristine condition. Check out pages 119-121 to see some very rare examples indeed.

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN OWL STICKERS DENNISON DECORATIONS-TO MEMORY OF JACK-O-LANTERN

Dennison injected their designs with energy and whimsy as sales plummeted during the early 1930s. Today, discerning collectors avidly pursue these diminutive treasures produced in relatively low numbers. This happens to be one of my favorite of Dennison’s slide boxes. I lament that this example being offered isn’t in better condition. Collectors regularly ask whether it is key to have a slide box complete with its contents. I strive to buy the best I can, so my answer is the more complete the contents and the better the condition the easier the decision to buy becomes.

09/25 Update: Condition is paramount. This only brought $89.

One Sided Beistle USA JOL with Vented Body Construction 1950s

I’ve liked the look of these 1950s Beistle vented lanterns since I began collecting. Much of Beistle’s output during this time was uninspired. Granted, these are far removed from the memorable design heights they achieved during their Golden Age, but nonetheless I have always liked them. I applaud this seller’s many excellent photos. I wish all sellers took such care. Other designs from this vented line can be seen on page 35.

Vintage Older Halloween Scarey Black Cat Die Cit Cardboard

This is merely a remnant of what should be a 3-D table decoration. Keep that in mind if you are inclined to bid on it. It was produced by Beistle during the late 1930s and into the early 1940s. You can see an intact example on page 230.

Vintage Halloween trix or treats sucker holder card ghosts in graveyard E. Rosen

The five Rosen Set B cards are the best overall of their Trix or Treats cards. (You can see the other sets on pages 90-92.) The sellers are very knowledgeable, long-time collectors who I had the true pleasure to meet in Pennsylvania at an event in 2003 called the Halloween Opera. Bid with confidence.

09/18 Update: All five cards from this set realized exceptionally strong prices! This particular card fetched $130.50.

Vintage US Metal Toy Tin Litho Rattle Noisemaker Halloween Skeleton

This was priced incorrectly by the seller with a BIN of $35. The listing lasted less than 20 minutes. Using an auction format, it surely would have broken the $200 mark. Unless you know what you are doing, avoid placing a BIN on items. 

Rare Vintage Halloween Place Card in Mint Condition

I love this little gem of a place card. As the seller states, there is a lot going on within its borders. I have never seen this before, so I know it is rare. I am impressed with its eccentric design elements. I know it isn't Beistle or Dennison. Gibson was generally consistent in marking their items, so I rule them out too. It may be Whitney, but I think it was produced by one of the myriad small-market players like Volland, The Henderson Line, etc. What I do know is that if you don't jump on this now, you may never see another one - especially in this pristine condition. 

Vintage Kirchhof "Life of the party" tin tambourine l930's-40's

Whenever you see a tin litho item marked "Life of the Party," you know two things immediately: Kirchhof produced the item and the item was produced during the 1950s. Even if this witch face tambourine wasn't marked, you should deduce it is of more recent vintage by the bright colors used. Contrast it with one made with muted colors during the 1930s shown on page 215. 

Vintage 1930s Halloween Party Invitation Card #1

This pop-up witch invite was produced by Beistle during the late 1920s. They produced another pop-up design a few years later featuring a scarecrow. To my knowledge, the scarecrow design hasn't come up for sale in many years. Check it out on page 223. 

09/11 Update: This sold for less than expected - $44.

Antique Halloween Beistle Arched Black Cat Die Cut

I sometimes shake my head at these results. What are people thinking? This diecut surfaces regularly and typically sells for about half of this ending price. Looking at the bidding history, as is almost always in such cases, the sky-high result is due to two determined bidders. Although I am VERY happy for the seller, one of the best on eBay, my counsel to collectors - especially newer ones - is to take a breather and use a service like eSnipe so as to guard against getting caught up in auction fever. Results like this heighten my fear that my long-time hobby is getting too expensive for the typical collector. 

Two antique Halloween JOL & Funny Face Lapel Pins

This seller left money on the table by listing this pair of lapel pins for a BIN of $10. Although you could toss the one on the right in the trash, the JOL face pin is worth considerably more than $10, perhaps 20 times more. I don't understand why sellers list things they know nothing about for a BIN price. (By stating they were from the 1950s, the seller signals their lack of knowledge in the same way using tongs for tongues indicates only a glancing acquaintance with spelling.)