New Lantern Design from Tim Ramzyk of Pulp Novelties!

Tim Ramzyk is nearing release of his latest fantastic creation, The Halloween Alley Cat! Just look at the craftsmanship! Tim tells me this lantern is his most ambitious to date, consisting of no less than seven separately molded pieces. He was able to craft this scary and unsettling feline even though the raw materials necessary to actually produce them were most costly and more elusive than ever.

This lantern proudly joins my collection of Tim’s limited edition releases he has been creating for the last several years. The detailed molding and coloration of the fur, the care to show its war-torn ears, the cleverly distinctive eyes and unbelievable realism of the mouth and fangs on this chilling lantern are, frankly, astounding. I plan to put it at eye level so my visitors will be a bit spooked.

Tim is a Wisconsin-based artist who meticulously and painstakingly hand molds his own designs from a heavy, durable material. I am in awe at the workmanship and the true craft Tim brings to pulp design. I proudly have seven of his treasures now on exhibit in my main display room. (For those who I've been lucky to host at my home, you know that in order for something to be placed in that room, it has to carry its own weight.)

Tim is offering The Halloween Alley Cat for $205 plus shipping, way too cheap for an item of this quality! He’ll begin selling them on Etsy on September 19th. As with all of his most recent lanterns they will be made in a limited number of small, handcrafted batches. When they are gone, they are gone. Do not miss out on the chance to have a limited edition piece of sculptural art from this great Wisconsin guy. The name of Tim’s Etsy shop is PulpNovelties. You can also contact him directly at pulpnovelties@aol.com.

For those who know me, you know that I rarely buy anything Halloween unless it is vintage. I've made an exception - and you should too. My advice is to place a pre-order with Tim now. I am privy to the number he plans to produce in his initial batch. That number compels me to repeat the advice - place a pre-order now. :)

Vintage 1930's Halloween WITCH's MYSTERY ANSWER GAME

Now, here’s a game I haven’t seen made available in a long time. Beistle produced this visually alluring item from 1933-1938. Given that it was in production for so long, one doesn’t often see them. The condition of this one is average compared to what will see when you do see one. This is a big item, so it was prone to sustaining bends and rips. Beistle’s first iteration is significantly harder to find. This elusive will-o-the-wisp has an off-white background but is otherwise the same. This first was produced from 1931-1932 and can be seen on page 15. I have never been able to secure one good enough for the collection. If you have one in very fine or better condition, you own a rarity.

Vintage Everything for Your Halloween Party Book Nell Spots Hats Nut Cups

I was asked recently if this Whitman publication has been reprinted. My answer was that I haven’t heard of any authorized or unauthorized reprints. The level of interest for this booklet has never been strong, so I don’t see the financial feasibility of an entity pursuing a reprinting.

09/11 Update: I was contacted by a reader, Mary R., who wrote to say this book has been reprinted. Here is what she wrote: “The "Everything for Your Halloween Party" book has indeed been reprinted. I bought a copy from Amazon a few years ago. As you said, the book is uninteresting. You can still look this up on Amazon and also read my review of it. I believe the Ebay seller of this item has a repro and I informed him/her of this.”

HALLOWEEN TAMBOURINE, VINTAGE HALLOWEEN NOISEMAKER

It’s great to see some surprising results in the tin litho segment. US Metal Toy recycled this graphic from several smaller form factor noisemakers they had produced. They s t r e t c h e d the graphic to “fit” the larger form factor called for with a tambourine, resulting in an item that isn’t too interesting. The stretching resulted in a 6” tambourine without a fixed appearance. (To see what I mean, check out page 216.) I think this was a short-lived product, produced in the early 1960s, accounting for its rarity today.

RARE Vintage Halloween Candy Container Grinning Cat on Pumpkin German Pre-War

The buyer of this fantastic candy container came by yesterday to show it to me. I think the seller’s photos, which didn’t accent the playful bee on the side of the cat or show the candy container in its best light, caused the price to descend to bargain territory. Frankly, the paint and detailing are top-notch. The size of the item is perfect and it is a wholly pleasing item overall. The price should have easily crested $1,000. A take-away here is critically look at the photos. If you feel details are left out or there can be better photos provided, ask for more.

Vintage Halloween Scarecrow Celluloid Viscoloid

Celluloid, especially those items produced by Viscoloid, have enjoyed a strong run-up in value over these last few years. (In fact, few vintage Halloween market segments have been spared the concerning run-up in value. As long stated, I worry about the hobby becoming the near-exclusive playground of the deep-pocketed.) This nice scarecrow suffers from a stomach ailment that any competent restorer can remedy with a little suction cup. I’d pay more attention to the sellers - two of the most knowledgeable (and generous with their knowledge) and fair-minded collectors I have the absolute pleasure to know. Be smart - add this seller to your list and watch what they offer. You will never go wrong with them.

09/19 Update: This sold for the relative bargain price of $197.50.

Very Rare VTG BEISTLE Orange SPIDER WEB Cobweb HALLOWEEN DIECUT 12X12" VTG 1950s

So, as this fine seller makes quite clear, the spider is missing. You can see the attachment area in the middle-lower-right section. Beistle produced this set for three short seasons during the 1950s. Ultimately, I think they were unsuccessful because of what you see here - the attachment goes missing. As I point out on page 158, given the extra labor involved to attach something to a flat paper surface and the very real prospect of that attachment getting bent up or falling off, I feel Beistle personnel threw up their hands and said, “Uncle!”

Vintage Halloween German JOL Pumpkin Ghost Paper Mache Candy Container GERMANY

I don’t feel this is a vintage item. Without the benefit of personal examination I can’t be sure, but nothing seems right about this item. I’ve never seen the JOL face. All of the ones I’ve seen have a ghost face that can be seen on page 62. The wear patterns seem off. The bottom opening is too small. Remember these items were attached to feet on a round wood base via a spring. The point would be to have them “dance” when tapped, so the opening at the bottom was all the way to the hem, not simply a rough hole like this one possesses.

Vintage Halloween Beistle Witch Near Mint 1950’s Large 18"

I’d say that when you look at the totality of Beistle’s Halloween output during the late 1950s, there are few stand-out items. Their creative gas tank was nearly on E. The trio of oddly captivating witches that this diecut belongs to is the definite exception to the lethargy Beistle brought to the marketplace back then. All are large, printed on slightly thinner stock and have irregular borders. (All can be seen on page 159.) Any of the trio is frustratingly difficult to find in near-mint or better condition. It took me nearly 30 years to get such examples, so these in that condition surface rarely. If you love quirky Beistle designs, don’t let this diecut escape. This fine seller has one more from the trio listed at this time, too.

Vintage Halloween German Diecut Diadem Tiara GERMANY JOL Pumpkin Girl Black Cats

Plenty of nice items are popping up on eBay now - not surprising given the time of the year. This tiara diecut is one of twelve designs, all of which can be seen on page 188. All are hard to find in collectible condition, but this one seems to surface less than some others. There was a brief blip up on the selling price of these tiaras about 18 months ago, driven mainly by one buyer, but since then the market has settled down. Most of these sell in the $700-1000 range at this time, but this is a quirky time of year so who really knows?

09/11 Update: This sold for a modest $597. Given what I have written above, I think the era of big dollars for these tiaras is over, at least for now.

Rare Vintage Halloween Dennison Witch Diecut "Eats"

Dennison diecuts from this time period, 1928-1932, are exceedingly hard-to-find in collectible condition. Even this one with its flaws has already garnered bids to $787 with 5 days to go! Dennison adopted a very specific design aesthetic during these years that differentiated their printed paper wares from all other major competitors. As the Halloween season of 1929 was wrapping up the stock market crashed. Within a year the icy tendrils of the Great Depression were crushing the vitality out of the general US economy. Dennison wasn’t spared. The overall number of their designs, and the number of each design made, atrophied. The general population was more concerned about buying food than decorations. So, at this remove of ~90 years, Dennison Halloween products from this time period are rarely seen but avidly pursued. This particularly charming non-embossed diecut first appeared in their 1930 Price List pamphlet.

08/31 Update: This ended up selling for the long-time high bid of $787, a strong price.

SUPER RARE Vintage Halloween Mask Hat w/ Crepe Paper Beistle Prototype? 20s-30s!

Since I have a trimmed one of these in the collection, I called the seller this morning to convey that it was not a prototype not meant to be sold, but an item produced and distributed by Beistle - very much meant to be sold. I acquired my lesser example 6-7 years ago when I purchased a box from a seller in the Midwest. Everything in the box was from a party some relative threw in 1923. Therefore, I think it reasonable to assume this creation was sold that year, too. I suspect that it didn’t sell well, causing Beistle to but the brakes on such designs. (Beistle was a well-managed company with responsive management acutely attuned to market trends. From my familiarity with their business practices honed through my 33 years of avid collecting, I know Beistle seldom lost much time in acknowledging market missteps.) They tinkered with the overall design until they hit upon a better one, a more easily worn one, known today as Domino masks. These were sold from 1926-1931. Examples can be seen on pages 236-237. In short, this is a rarity - and in better shape than the only other one I’ve ever seen.

Vintage Halloween rare 1930's German paper pumpkins

Sadly, this lot of fantasy items has already been bid up to far more than they are valued today. All except one were made during or after 1995 and have very modest decorative value only. (The JOL at the center bottom is probably truly vintage.) Bottom line - several are pleasant to look at, but they aren’t truly vintage.

4 Unused Tally Cards w/ Tassels Owl on Moon with JOL, Vintage Halloween c.1930’s

These tallies were produced by Hallmark, almost certainly in the late 1920s. Hallmark small paper has escalated rapidly in price over these last three years - and deservedly so. The cleverness of their designs and brilliant use of color make them poppers in a display case. That said, the ending price at $215 each, seems excessive.

Vintage Dennisons Halloween Seals Green and Red Leaves In Box 1920s

Dennison hit a few home runs in their seal designs produced from the early teens through the early 30s. (Admittedly, there were a few singles, doubles and triples - and sadly, a very few strikeouts, too!) This “triple” design first appeared in 1928. They contain an assortment of two, not necessarily evenly balanced between the two designs. (Things weren’t as precise back then.) The fact that this example has nine of one and eleven of the other is perfectly fine. I expect this listing to fetch significantly more than the current level of $146.50. If you’re a Dennison boxed set collector, you cannot let this slip away.