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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

GERMAN WITCH IN JOL CANDY CONTAINER HEAVY COMPOSITION VINTAGE HALLOWEEN ANTIQUE

The smaller form factor German compo candy containers seem to have the best molding detail. Just look at the contours of the JOL. This is truly a small work of art. There is at least one other design that comprises the set. You can see the devil next to the witch on page 65. The lister, stnick22, has listed ~150 lots, many quite good. There has been a fair amount of higher-quality items this calendar year. Has this unusual abundance pulled too many dollars out of wallets/purses, limiting the chances for things to bring gasp-inducing prices? (I have remarked to several collectors that prices seem soft overall.) I projected that the hobby would see several years of unusual abundance as the first generation of serious collectors dies off. This first generation focused almost exclusively on German lanterns and candy containers, so it follows that is what we’ll be seeing more of. This now-dying or already gone first generation didn’t pay much attention to paper, so we won’t be seeing much of this. I project that paper, especially small paper, has much room to run.

VINTAGE SNICKERS HALLOWEEN CANDY BAR BOX

I enjoy watching the vintage Halloween market percolate as it matures into middle age. Certain market segments cool while others heat. One that has been heating rapidly over the last year has been for candy boxes basically sent to retailers. Butterfinger seems to be the most common box with other candy bars not as well represented. The graphics are simple yet denote so well the era of their creation. Prices have been escalating. It’ll be instructive to see what this one fetches.

Jack-O-Lantern Double Sided Pumpkin Table Lantern Halloween Decor Vintage?

About 15 years ago, a folk artist made replicas of the iconic Beistle lantern from 1930-1931. These replicas were high-end and a credit to that person’s folk art roots. I believe this is one of those well-made replicas. The connecting slot at the bottom is the tell. You can also be confident that something isn’t actually a vintage item when the seller states such things as “Possibly vintage? unsure of age or maker”.

32 Pieces Vintage Halloween Decorations Posters Embossed Pieces

This lot achieved a lofty ending price even though the condition of most of the lot’s elements was only fair. The key driver was almost certainly the Dennison JOL-headed traffic officer. First produced in 1930 right when the first effects of what would become The Great Depression were being felt, relatively few were produced. (I have a good friend who has been searching for one in collectible condition for years.) The dancing witch poster is a mystery. I’ve never seen it before.

Vintage Halloween SCARCE DUAL SIDED PUMPKIN HEAD GARLAND BANNER 24" EARLY

Dennison produced small garlands for two seasons starting in 1926. They were sold as enveloped sets called String-Em-Outs. I know of only two designs. This listing shows 6 JOLs. A complete string consists of 27 identically dual-sided connected JOLs. The real treasure with the String-Em-Outs are the envelopes. Feast your eyes on the two in the collection on page 263.

VINTAGE 1950's HALLOWEEN Party Invitation Card BOY, GIRL, BLACK CAT, BAT, OWL

A new market segment is developing in our fun hobby. I’ve noticed real energy in the unused greeting card market segment with only slightly less energy in the used greeting card market segment. (The amount of use is key.) Some of the imagery ranges from sweet, like with this listing, to scary. There are cards with elaborate pop-ups and with moving parts. In short, it is fun to watch this segment gain currency. This long-time and very fine seller seems to have a deep inventory of unused greeting cards, so be sure to watch her listings.

Vintage Halloween J. Chein Tambourine

Chein produced some of the best classic tin litho tambourines, all avidly collected today. This has long been one of my favorite designs. I remember shopping a long-defunct collectibles show called PMA in 1990 or 1991. I saw this tambourine for sale for $35 and bought it, wondering if I was crazy to pay such a high price for something I rally didn’t need. Sure glad I made the purchase!

08/15 Update: Especially so, since this tam fetched $503.97!

VTG RARE Beistle PINK SKELETON W/ JACK-O-LANTERN ON HORSE Diecut HALLOWEEN 1960

I love this diecut - and am surprised I do. (My opinion has changed {matured?} since 2014.) The darker designs with ominous portent are those that appeal to me the most - and this is galaxies away from that design aesthetic. From my anecdotal pulsing of other collectors’ opinions of this design, I find it be divisive. Few are ambivalent. Others either love it or despise it. Beistle released this for the 1960-1962 seasons. I have grown to appreciate the weird colors and out-there design. Beistle produced similar designs during this small window leading me to believe they had hired - and soon parted ways with - an art design manager with an eccentric outlook. Given these don’t turn up that often, I also suspect it wasn’t a strong seller.

08/15 Update: This brought $189.50.

Rare Vintage Halloween 3 Piece Witches & Pumpkin Fluorescent Die Cut Decorations

These diecuts were produced by Beistle. The witches were released as a trio of designs during the later 1950s. Even in rough condition like these two are, they bring strong dollars as evidenced by the ending price. The large JOL was released during the years between 1952-1963, inclusive. It is not as sought after as the witches. I feel the seller would have have achieved higher gross dollars by listing these items separately.

Vintage Halloween Bat 1920’s Dennison

This non-embossed bat was produced by Dennison. A slightly more colorful iteration first appeared in their 1920 Bogie Book with a stock number of H62. I suspect this one was produced in 1919 or 1920. What I do know is that either variant seldom comes available, especially in this near-mint condition. I appreciate this seller’s no-nonsense listing style. It is something Jack Webb would love with his “Just the facts, Ma’am” demeanor. (Am I dating myself?) I would love it if more sellers would adopt this efficient style.

08/15 Update: This diecut fetched $104.