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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Vintage Paper Mache Halloween Black Cat Candy Container

I believe the buyer got a solid deal here. This pulp black cat candy holder is harder to find than the similarly constructed orange witch - and that one is no cinch to acquire. The highlights look good and it appears to be structurally intact. I had this on my Watch List but forgot to bid.

Halloween Skeleton Jitterbug Jones Glow In Dark 1940?

There has been a pronounced frothiness to the vintage Halloween market over the last year, similar to the frothiness seen in many other collectible categories. This result is a good indicator of that frothiness. This 1930s Jitterbug Jones table decoration with an easel is not often seen - even less so complete with its placard - but given the item’s poor condition, the ending price was much higher than was expected.

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RARE Vintage Halloween Jack o’ Lantern Tea Set Waste Bowl Germany 1914-1932

This super example of a waste bowl from the German porcelain set is a much-coveted item, affirmed by the impressive price the listing has already attained with ~6 days left to go. (It surely doesn’t hurt that the seller is so respected in our collecting community!) What many collectors don’t know is that there are three variants. The most common variant looks just like the one in this listing but is missing a face. The more uncommon variant looks like the one in this listing. The most uncommon variant - so rare that I’ve only seen it once - has a face and a “bubble skirt.” (Look under the Acquisitions tab and scroll down to about August of 2017 to see the one in the collection.)

03/30 Update: This sold for an astounding $735, a record. I’m not sure what drove this waste bowl to such heights, but am skeptical we’ll see such exuberance too often.

Unusual Gibson? Vintage Halloween black cat moon diecut napkin holder placecard

This is a nice dual-sided candy box, not a napkin holder. It was produced by an unknown firm with a good artistic aesthetic. There is a good bit of energy in this piece rather than the static designs more commonly seen. I have one in the collection and enjoy displaying it prominently. That said, the BIN price doesn’t seem to have taken into account condition. The asking price is $199.99 with an ability to make an offer. If you are inclined to make an offer on this item, an offer in the $60-90 range would be sensible.

Partial Vintage 85 Page Catalog: Halloween, Christmas, Dolls, Toys, Favors, Etc.

Based on the Halloween items shown in this catalog, the catalog wasn’t issued prior to 1928. Now, notice the two Halloween baskets referenced at the right, lower middle of the page. The design with the 2 skeletons warming their bony hands over a JOL cauldron was almost certainly never actually produced as a basket. The text references only that there are four designs. The four designs actually produced can be seen on page 225. Go ahead and read the caption to that grouping to understand what I think Beistle switched up at the last moment. (The skeletons were used as cover art for a stunt game that Beistle produced from 1931-1932 in both enveloped and boxed versions. Beistle seldom wasted finished art.)

Vintage Halloween Beistle die cut Tissue paper honeycomb Witch 1931

The seller left a considerable amount of money behind with this listing. They cluelessly gave a BIN option of $69.99. A smart buyer swooped in a scant 7 minutes later, surely chortling over the fact that they scooped up something that had the reasonable potential to bring $500-600. Congrats to the buyer!

Vintage Halloween Witch Die Cut Invite Unused Black Cat Old Card w/ Envelope

This well-designed and unusually hued invitation was produced by Dennison. It first appeared in their 1922 Bogie Book with stock number of H89. Early Dennison items have been on a tear these last ~2 years. Especially given that it is unused, I feel this item undershot the price trend somewhat.

Vintage Halloween Litho Paper And Cardboard Horn Noisemaker

For the longest time early in my vintage Halloween collecting days, I felt paper-litho horns with this design were produced by Beistle given the fairy motif imagery. Over the years as I became more informed, I was curious as to why I couldn’t find evidence that Beistle produced such items. Well, it seems horns like these were made without license. The mystery producer merely appropriated the art work and sat back hoping to make a buck without litigation. So, if you are a potential buyer, know this isn’t a Beistle product, but a by-product.

02/23 Update: This brought $123.50.

VINTAGE 1930's Gibson HALLOWEEN Party Tally Card BLACK CAT inside JACK O-LANTERN

This tally bursts with energy - so typical of many Gibson small paper items. Contrast this smile-inducing gem with the static and drab artwork shown on the candy box in the post below. You can’t go wrong with this long-time and very knowledgeable seller - one of my favorites.

02/23 Update: This awesome seller received a top bid of $46 for this super tally.

Super Rare Vintage Antique Halloween Store Candy Box Display Advertising

The seller has set the opening bid at $169.99. Granted, this box from a little-known candy company is rare, but is it worth even the opening price? The imagery isn’t memorable or unique. I question how noticeable it would be in a display case, especially given the space it would consume. It will be fun to see if this item with an out-sized opening bid price gains traction.

02/23 Update: The seller has changed the opening price to $129.99, still too high.

Vintage 1929 Colorful "The Call" Halloween Party Invitation

This cleverly designed Dennison invitation was first sold in 1928. It isn’t one that often surfaces. This listing is a good illustration of why the small paper market segment is so hot. (Although at times overheated, I feel certain items from certain producers still have a ways to run.) Most of the time what comes up for sale is just like this invitation - used and then kept as a souvenir of a memorable event by being placed in a scrapbook. The delta in value between one in usual condition and one in near-mint condition is sometimes multiples of the former. Some collectors are laser-focused on condition while others appreciate an item for the journey on which it has traveled. I appreciate this seller listing this item as a true auction with a low opening bid rather than the too-often-seen “auctions” where the opening price represents the full value (sometimes plus) of an item. Let’s hope this rare invite does well.

02/23 Update: This sold for $69, a tad lower than I would have forecast.