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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

early vintage Die Cut OWL 9"x14" mechanical USA

These were originally sold in one envelope as “Mechanical Hallowe’en Silhouettes” by Beistle. They were produced in the early 1920s. The owl is in rough condition yet still brought an unsustainably high price. The bat seems to be in significantly better condition yet brought a bit less. These results are a result of two apparently deep-pocketed collectors escalating the price beyond reason.

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Rare Die Cut-pre 1920's marked made in Saxony Black Cat- 4.5" Vintage Halloween

This seller offered two unusual small diecuts that were both marked Made in Saxony. (Saxony once had a monarchy but adopted a constitution under the Weimar Republic from 1919-1933, when these were produced.) Saxony Halloween items are typically visually arresting. They also use more gray than other diecuts produced at the time. Evidenced by the three complete sets in the collection shown at the top of page 170, I assume these were sold in sets of four in glassine envelopes. Prior to these listings, I had not seen either design before.

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Antique, Vintage 1930’s -1940’s Lot of Holiday Halloween Decorations, Mask Games

This seller seemingly put a jumble of items in poor condition together and hoped for the best. Sharp-eyed collectors would have noticed the glint of true gold amidst the mica flakes. Lurking at the very top unheralded is a rare Beistle band hat. It is rare enough that I don’t recall seeing the design before. Whomever bought the lot could burn everything but the band hat and still make out just fine.

KIRCHHOF HALLOWEEN NOISEMAKER WITCH BAT DRUM ORIGINAL VG COND

It is great to see a healthy selection of nicer items on eBay. This is a desirable tin litho noisemaker, made by Kirchhof during the 1930s. It is one of a set of two designs. Both can be seen on page 204. Both are exceedingly rare, with this one just a tad more commonly seen. The design is sometimes found in ratchet form, too. For some reason, the condition of the noisemakers with this lithography is typically poorer than with others. Overall, this example is in the upper third relative to condition.

09/22: Update: This sold for $283, slightly below what I would have expected at any other time of the year.

Halloween Handled Small Tea Cup with Saucer Germany 1908-1932 JOL Face

Over the three decades I’ve been collecting vintage Halloween, various market segments have waxed and waned. Prices for tin have decreased with occasional signs of life. Germany candy containers still bring strong dollars but nothing like they used to bring. ( I suspect this downtrend for such items will continue.) Lanterns by and large have also lost luster. On the other side of the ledger, early Beistle, Dennison and Gibson products have sizzled. Small paper (invitations, place cards and tally cards) has had a phenomenal rise as have German porcelain items. This cup and saucer result is the latest indicator of the health of this market segment. The realized price is near 100% more than it would have been 2-3 years ago. I suspect these same segments will continue to weaken and strengthen as the first generation of collectors, who specialized in what are now the weaker segments, ride off into the sunset.

Vtg 1916 HALLOWEEN LANTERN DEVIL SKULL OWL BLACK CAT Knorpp Candy Co Brooklyn

It seems I haven’t seen one of these desirable four-sided lanterns being offered for auction in a while. Produced by the Knorpp Candy Company with a patent date of July 11, 1916, it was marketed as a Four in One Lantern. The imagery isn’t very complex, yet it resonates long after you see the four unique sides. Knorpp also issued four tiaras with each replicating one of the lantern’s four sides. Given the rough condition of this example, I am surprised it received a bid at the opening price. To see the one in the collection, the envelope and one of the tiaras, please turn to page 128.

Antique Halloween Diadem/Tiara with JOL Maid and Black Cats

This German tiara is in exceptional condition. Given how they were meant to be used, this is surprising. The Germans made twelve designs comprising a full set during the 1920s. They were marketed as diadems, although tiara has become the way in which these kinds of items are referenced. All designs are rare. Some designs have more oomph to them. In my view this one, the pirate JOL, the cat in a feathered hat and the owl trio are the best.

VINTAGE RARE HALLOWEEN MYSTERY ANSWER BOARD GAME ~ PRECURSOR TO OUIJA BOARD -HTF

I haven’t seen one of these being offered for some time. Beistle produced two variants of this item’s sibling that were both marketed as Witch’s Mystery Answer Games. The much rarer one of these was produced in 1931 and has a white background. (I have yet to find one to add to the collection.) The more common version was produced beginning in 1933 and has an orange background. (Except for a very slight size difference, these two are otherwise identical.) As an interim item, this noticeably smaller Mystery Answer Board was produced only in 1932. They are rare. The condition of the one offered for auction seems to be quite good, although I wish the seller would have included a full picture of the item’s reverse. This is such an eye-catching and desirable item that I expect bidding to be fierce. If you don’t have this and collect Beistle, this is a “must have” item.

Vintage Halloween German Childrens Tea Pot Jol

I suspect this is a teapot made not in Germany but in Japan. Some of the reasons are its knobby surface to both the pot and its lid, the dark-hued orange, the overly large eyes, the uncolored/unglazed lid bottom and the clumsy, hurried paint to the end of the spout.

09/15 Update: Given that I feel confident this is a teapot made in Japan, not Germany, the buyer overpaid by forking over $515.05.