This was produced by Gibson, not Dennison. It is a hard-to-find item with a mechanical feature.
09/12 Update: This brought $166.50.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Irrational Exuberance
Alan Greenspan famously asked the following in 1996: “But how do we know when irrational exuberance has unduly escalated asset values…”? Below are three examples of irrational exuberance. I am more than willing to sell pieces identical to these from my collection to anyone willing to pay such prices!
1950's Vintage Halloween pumpkin ghost 7 Up advertising sign poster 10" mint
I was advising several buyers on what the appropriate value for this wonderful sign was. I settled at the $200 mark thinking anything above that would be lunacy. Well, madness reigns! Who would have thought that this advertising sign for 7 Up would bring such strong dollars?
Amazing Old Paper die cut 21" Jointed Halloween Pumpkin Jack O Lantern Man
This Halloween Elf diecut was produced by Beistle sometime between 1923 and 1932. They issued two styles, the male seen here - larger with an extra foliage band - and a female, both sold in one envelope. Non-collectors sometimes ask me why vintage Halloween items are so pricey. My standard response is that back when such treasures as this were being produced few people kept anything after a party. Most everything was tossed. The items not tossed were often used year after year, much as I suspect this elf was. Consequently, on a scale relative to Christmas decorations, few items survived and those that did are generally in crummy condition. When near-mint items surface, sometimes the prices go to lofty levels that may not be seen again in years, if ever. These purchased items disappear into collections perhaps not to see the light of the secondary market again for a long time.
09/10 Update: This brought $207.50.
Vintage Mid 1900s Halloween Paper Mache Witch
This rare pulp witch candy holder is a challenge to find in collectible condition for reasons that escape me. I added one to the collection during the last year when I saw one in great, although imperfect condition. (I had resisted acquiring one as condition was always problematic.) The seller neglects to mention height. This is impressively sized at ~8.25” high and makes a great display item.
09/08 Update: Glad to see this fine pulp figural brought $321.
Dennison Vintage Halloween Spooky Candle Die Cut
Although the seller should ditch the dizzying background, she is offering a few nice things, including this Dennison table decoration, which first appeared in their 1927 Party Magazine. Dennison produced so many intricate designs during their heyday that selecting their best is hard. Arguably, this is near the top of their output in terms of creativity and sheer brilliance. It has long been one of my favorite items. Many people agree since the bidding is already up to $150.50 with four days remaining.
Vintage 1920s Dennison Witch In Boiling Caldron Halloween Seals Lot of 20 In Box
This is a hard-to-find Dennison box of seals. These were first sold in 1924 with a stock number of H682. It is unusual to find all the seals extant in good shape. Many times they are rolled or have clumped together. A fair price for this is in the $125-140 range.
Halloween German Mini Diecut, Owl on Crescent Moon, Heavily Embossed, Easel
Wow, someone really wanted this German mini-diecut! Three bidders drove up the ending price to an unsustainable level. This is part of a set of six first produced during the early 1930s, then produced again from about 1945-1949. The others can be seen on page 185.
Halloween 1920's Gibson Diecut Dancing Cat Centerpiece with Envelope
This great set rarely surfaces in what the seller describes as mint condition. Typically, one or more of the connecting tabs are long gone. This dancing cat centerpiece was produced by Gibson during the later 1920s. The seller received a healthy price for this, but I wonder if the ending price might have even been higher had she started the auction with a significantly lower threshold.
Vintage German Embossed Halloween Decoration Die Cut 1930s SKELETON PLAYING TUBA
What a pleasant surprise to see this exceedingly rare German diecut listed on eBay. It is one of the designs sold to Canada in 1935, so it makes sense the seller is in Canada. There are four diecuts to this desirable set. The others show a skeleton playing a violin, an accordion and a drum. I know of only a handful of collectors who own one or more of this set. The pale blue background, present on all four designs, is very unusual and sets these heavily embossed diecuts apart from others. This listing has only been active for less than one hour and there are already multiple bids. I expect this to fetch serious dollars. It’ll be instructive to see the result.
09/08 Update: This sold for $2,025, about what I felt it should bring. Congrats to the prevailing bidder.
1920s Dennison Crescent Moon Vintage Halloween Seals in box complete set 2"
Although this boxed set of gummed silhouettes isn’t much to look at, if you are a Dennison completist it is surprisingly hard to find. This design, also made in black, first appeared in their 1921 Bogie Book.
09/03 Update: This sold for $49.00.
Vintage Halloween Rare Beistle "Who's a Dumbskull?" Game and Envelop
This is a rare chance for someone to acquire not only the harder-to-find version of this Beistle “I’m A Dumbskull Stunt Game” but the envelope as well. I’ve seen about 10 such envelopes in 32 years and this is one of the best. Yes, there is toning to the front and a small tear, but considering it was used to house a game made in 1930-1931, the condition is super. There were two versions of the game made - the differences are detailed on page 17. The seller is a long-time, knowledgeable collector with whom you should feel very comfortable doing business.
09/03 Update: This brought $212.49.
Rare Antique Beistle “Spook’s Trip” Halloween Party Game
This result is surprising. This Spook’s Trip game, produced by Beistle during the 1950s, is shabby and incomplete, as it is missing the six markers from the lower right corner. These surface from time to time, generally in better condition. A complete example can be found on page 20. I would have expected this to fetch $30.
Vintage Halloween German JOL Windowpane Diecut
The condition of this is typical of these large diecuts. The Germans produced four different designs of these “windowpane” diecuts during the early 1930s. None surface often. This is surely the oddest imagery of all - a lascivious JOL! The others to this set can be seen on page 170.
Vintage Halloween EMBOSSED DIECUT LANTERN - GERMANY - 1920's - RARE & NEAR MINT!
This wonderful seller is doing it again - offering a rarely seen item in fantastic condition! This is a large lantern made in Germany during the 1920s. As I write on page 118, “This is an imposing lantern due to its sheer size and detailing, measuring 16” h x 8.25” w.” I think the seller is smart not to attempt to construct the lantern simply for the sake of photos. These things are nearly 100 years old! I treasure the one in the collection, and know you’ll treasure this, too!
08/28 Update: This sold for a strong $1728.99.
