This game surfaces enough that I feel $200 was an aggressive price to pay. A loyal reader asked my opinion of the listing. I said that although the overall condition was good, the BIN price was too high, given that several have sold for about half that in the last year on eBay and other forums. (The listing shows the game sold for $225, but the actual selling price was $200 according to the seller. )
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
RARE Antique Witch Cauldron 1925 Beistle collapsible paper Vintage Halloween
It was great to see this listing for the iconic Beistle honeycomb cauldron. This design came in three sizes, with this one appearing to be the largest. The arch, normally the scene of the crime with these delicate objects, is intact. I suspect the seller might have gotten more for this given its size and overall condition if it had been offered through an auction format.
1928 Fortunes Party Halloween Game Past Present & Future Punch Board Unused
This is a punch game I don’t recall seeing before. The graphics are both minimalist and check most of the boxes for iconic imagery. Unusually, it seems to be wholly intact. I wonder if the seller has started it too high at a $49.99 opening price?
01/02 Update: This sold for $62.99.
1916 DENNISON H636 HALLOWEEN DECORATION STICKERS SEALS Ghost Scaring Boy Set 25
This seller got a phenomenal price for this box of Dennison seals. This design was first produced in 1922, not 1916. They typically fetch in the neighborhood of $100-125, so the buyer paid a steep premium.
Halloween Vintage Toy Pumpkin (Germany?) Children's tea set sugar
The seller contacted me for my opinion on this assemblage. I said that although I couldn’t be sure of the teapot, all the other pieces were produced in Japan not Germany.
Very fine near mint 1920 Vintage Halloween German Black Cat & JOLs Tiara Diadem
This has to be one of the finest German tiaras I’ve seen. Can you imagine how rare it is for something to go through nearly 100 years and still look like this with its bright color and intact highlighting? Discerning collectors know what a treasure this is as it has been bid up to $510 as of this writing. It’ll be fun to see what this fetches!
12/17 Update: The ending price was shockingly low - $787 - surely a disappointment to the seller.
Vintage Halloween Horn Toy Witch JOL Bat Americana Décor Noisemaker Container
The horn is not a vintage one - but one made to look as if it has some age to it. It looks like something produced by Bethany Lowe or firms of that ilk. Don’t be fooled…
Contact Page Problems
Hello Readers,
I discovered this morning that the Contact page wasn’t working, in that if you sent me an email through the site I wasn’t receiving it. I don’t know how long that was the case, but I’m guessing several weeks. I worked with my site’s host’s customer support unit this morning and the issue was solved. So, if you sent a message and were left wondering why I hadn’t responded, that was the reason. Happy Thanksgiving!
BEISTLE HONEYCOMB CAT FACE CONTINENTAL HAT WITH PLUME RARE 1925-31 WITH STRAP
This desirable Beistle continental hat was produced from 1925-1931. Although these surface from time to time, seldom do they do so in such awesome condition. The companion hat to it is shown on page 238. Although the seller may have started it too high, you will rarely have an opportunity to do business with such a seller: knowledgeable and eminently trustworthy.
Vintage Gibson Halloween Black Cat Tally Cards
The buyer of this lot of two Gibson tallies got a bargain. Both are visually appealing, colorful and large. The full-bodied cat looking back is the better of the two. It is rarely seen, especially in collectible condition. That tally alone should have brought $60. This is another example of the perils of using the Buy-It-Now feature when not specializing in what is being sold.
Vintage "Halloween Parade" E. Rosen Rosbro Plastic Cat Pushing Pumpkin on Wheels
The seller has posted this for $899.99. Good luck!
RARE! Skeleton Halloween Lantern Trick or Treat Basket Original Paper Insert
I used to see more of these than I have recently. These were reproduced in the later 1990s and after, but these reproductions are easy to identify. The truly vintage slot and tab skull lanterns will always have this tan toning to the surface whereas the new ones are very white. Please keep this in mind if you see this lantern design for sale online or in shops.
Large HALLOWEEN FLYING WITCH W BIRD STARS Germany Embossed Paper Diecut H10
Even given the fair amount of surface paper missing this German windowpane diecut brought less than I would have expected. This design is one of four comprising a full set, all being roughly the same size. (Some of the cottage industries producing these windowpanes trimmed the borders some. As long as the trimming doesn’t touch the central image, there is generally no diminution of value.)
Happy Halloween!
Well, another Halloween season has nearly concluded. What a wild ride it has been with record prices for paper - small paper, German diecuts, USA diecuts, table decorations, games, etc.. The prices have been high enough that I do worry about the average collector - the life blood of all hobbies - being priced out.
Other segments like hard plastic and blow molds have stayed strong, whereas I’ve seen softening with lanterns and candy containers. Tin overall has strengthened some.
I expect to see many more lanterns and candy containers come to market as the first generation of collectors, who typically specialized in these genres, die off.
I expect to see continued strengthening in the paper segments as there is just not much of this in collectible condition to be found.
I’ll have a great array of vintage Halloween lots for my annual May auction - open only to those who have purchased a copy of my third edition directly from me.
Have a Happy Halloween!
MBL
Vintage Halloween German Minature Tea Set Cup Saucer Early 1900s
Given the condition, especially the very prominent chip, this German porcelain saucer should never have ended at this lofty valuation.
