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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Vintage Halloween Skull Candle Lantern ~ Jack O Lantern ~ Skeleton

There was a time when these surfaced far more often than they do these days. The Dolly Toy references I have indicate this design was produced from 1936 into the 1950s. I am doubting this information. I suspect the skull was produced during a narrower time frame, whereas the devil head lantern, much more often seen, was surely made from 1935 into the 1950s. This skull lantern has some discoloration due to wax residue. The bidding as I type now is at $120.50. What will it fetch?

08/16 Update: This sold for $400.

Vintage Halloween Beistle Favor Basket Witch Cat Honeycomb

This great favor basket is from the era when Beistle’s dominance of the marketplace was in full bloom. Made during the interval 1927-1931, each of the four designs is well-executed. They make great display items. The damage to this example is minimal considering the stress the item was put under each time the honeycomb base was open and closed. (I’ve opened mine once - and they stay that way.)

08/15 Update: This sold for a sum in a vicinity of normality - $250.

Vintage 1920’s Halloween Set Of 4 Tally Bridge Cards Cat Witch Owl Bat Rare

These tally cards with the four iconic images were produced by Beistle for too many years and in several packaging iterations. I also suspect they were sold singly in stationary stores. If you are going to see an example of Beistle’s small paper output, chances are very high you will see one of these four designs. They almost always have the now-pink ribbons. Frankly, the most interesting part of this listing is the envelope. I wish it was in better shape.

Vintage Halloween Party Invitation Rare Near Mint Condition Unused Witch And Elf

Results like this cause me to feel the market for small paper is significantly overheated. Although I laid out my reasoning as to why values in the small paper market segment would pop some time ago, the “pop” has outstripped scarcity for sure. Two of these invitations were offered within days of each other and brought similar results. These surface with some frequency, so those buying at such price levels will surely not see a ROI. Granted, ROI to some, especially in terms of collecting, means nothing. That said, why spend such sums on small paper when lesser amounts would buy great (and much rarer) items in different market segments? These unsustainable prices have had the predictable result of sellers rushing their small paper wares to market, all hoping to catch the wave before it crests. This is a market segment that has become much too rich for my sensibilities. In fact, the hobby overall has gotten too expensive. I worry about its overall health given such results.

RARE! ANTIQUE BEISTLE DIECUT - PUMPKIN GARLAND

This exceedingly rare garland was produced by Beistle in 1923 to augment a display that would include either a Halloween elf or the fairy clock - or both. I’ve seen a complete garland only once before - when I purchased it perhaps 20 years ago. I’ve sold individual segments here and there but have never seen a complete garland at any other time in any other collection. So, if you love Beistle, this is a must-have item.

08/10 Update: This garland sold for an astounding $2,100 - and it wasn’t even in great condition. This ending price is another red flag to new collectors to steer clear of this once-accessible hobby unless their pockets are very deep indeed.

The garland in my collection is in near-mint or better condition. If you have bought a copy of my third edition from me, I’ll sell it for $2,500 plus shipping/insurance. Step right up…

Vintage BEISTLE Hallowe'en Party Helps Nut or Candy Trays w/ Envelope 1930s RARE

What a true delight it is to see something so astonishingly rare on a forum that has been so denuded of much of interest over the last several years! This is only the second time I’ve seen this nut or candy tray design with the proper trays associated with the envelope - ever. The only other time was when I acquired the example in the collection in 2007. Interestingly, that example is different from this one in packaging design and quantity. The stock numbers are sufficiently different that I’m wondering if Beistle issued this variant first with the one shown on page 221 second after an interim of several years. Perhaps Beistle dusted off a design used for one season to save precious capital during the first few years of the Great Depression. I speculate… What I do know is that this is something that Beistle collectors should covet. Open those pocketbooks and wallets! This listing is worth it.

08/04 Update: This truly rare set brought $981.87 - money much better spent than with the invitation noted above that sold for close to the same amount.

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN EIGHT DENNISONS NO. H-37 WITCH DIE CUT OUTS & ENVELOPE 1940'S

I believe the envelope and the broomed witch cut-outs are fake. I have a vintage set in the collection and there are material differences. The problems I see are many: the image on the envelope isn’t centered; the image of the witch intrudes on the Dennison logo; the feet of the witch are blocky, lacking all of the detail present in the authentic example; the envelope differs in size from the authentic example; the envelope appears to be made from a coarse paper; the envelope is constructed differently from the authentic example; the flap isn’t shaped the way Dennison shaped their flaps; the cut-outs lack the detail present in the authentic examples, especially in the outline of the cape. I would tread with caution. Ask this seller many questions. If someone buys this, feel free to send it to me for my perusal. This seller has also listed a fence with an envelope with the stock number missing. This latter set has been reproduced. A very discerning collector in North Carolina bought such a set and sent it to me for my perusal. I concluded it was a fake. He managed to get a refund. Whether this was the seller for that transaction is unknown.

07/30 Update: This listing, containing items I believe to be faked, ended at $61. Whomever bought this, I invite you to contact me to arrange shipment so that I may inspect this in person.

08/08 Update: The buyer has just today sent these to me so that I can personally examine them. I’ll post my findings when they arrive.

08/10 Update: I examined the envelope and contents today. The entire thing is a fake. An additional anomaly I noticed is the tittle in Dennison is missing. The cut-outs are notably smaller and do not exactly match the envelope’s printed image. The authentic cut-outs would cover the printed image precisely. If you are going to purchase items from this seller, trappedintheshadow, ask many questions of her.

Box of 40 Vintage HALLOWEEN WITCH Dennison Gummed Seals - Very Cool!

Dennison rarely strayed from packaging their awesome wares in boxes and envelopes that have become familiar to collectors. For reasons I don’t know, they sometimes switched things up with their packaging. I’ve had this same set in the collection for many years. It is one of two seal designs packaged in a non-traditional manner. (The other is a tiny box of simple JOLs.) These seals and the box rarely surface. Collectors may have been confused by the packaging, accounting for what I consider a low ending result.

Vintage German Halloween 1920's Large 37" Heavily Embossed Jointed Skeleton

Those industrious Germans produced jointed or articulated highly embossed skeleton diecuts in three sizes. The 27” version surfaces regularly. This seller auctioned one of these that brought $188.75. This 37” version is much less common - and the ending price reflects this fact. The largest one of all measures 50” and almost never comes up for sale. It would probably crest $1000.

NEAR MINT RARE Vintage Halloween House of Fate Fortune Paper Card, Whitney 1930s

I love the House of Fate fortunes issued by Whitney during the early 1930s. What I’ve discovered about these little design treasures is that every single one I’ve ever examined is subtly (sometimes very subtly) different than any other. If you compare the one being offered for sale by this wonderful seller by the ones shown on page 278, you may think it is identical to the one shown at middle left or bottom right. You’d be wrong. For reasons I don’t understand, the lines comprising the windows are subtly different as are the lines and shapes of the lowest roof border. (Take out a magnifying glass and see for yourself.) Now, in terms of value and desirability, I acknowledge this is a distinction without a difference, but isn’t it a mystery? Why would Whitney have printed so many meaningless variations? That said, these are VERY desirable items. It’ll be fun to see what this brings.

07/30 Update: This brought the near-record price of $385.22!

Vintage halloween Sign Grim Reaper Skeleton Right this way and watch out RARE

Gibson produced this fantastic non-embossed diecut during the early 1930s. I’ve now seen this three times. Given that the hand is neither detached nor missing, the ending bid isn’t outlandish, especially given the visual statement this piece makes. Gibson differentiated itself from its better capitalized competitors, Beistle and Dennison, by bold designs that catch the eye even nearly a century later. Their output was far less than their named competitors, so it may be a while before another surfaces.