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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Vintage Halloween LITHOGRAPH WITCH DEVIL HAT TAMBOURINE color 6" metal German ?

I suspect this is the earliest iteration of this unkempt witch design. I believe it is German. These early 1930s tambourines with the outer whitish circle are difficult to find. (I’ve seen two iterations - one with a yellow background and the other with an orange background.) Both iterations have dancing devils on the hat. There are some smaller noisemakers where the art is a bit more sophisticated and the devils have been replaced with a bat. I would expect this to fetch ~$300, but selling right now is a real crapshoot. Many dealers not familiar with the vintage Halloween market flood eBay with listings in October when the casual collector has already spent their annual decorating budget. Sometimes bargains abound.

10/09 Update: No softness to this ending price of $843!

Rare Antique 1920's German Pumpkin Suitcase Crepe Paper Candy Container Germany

This item, like all of the items made with crepe paper being offered by this seller were produced in Japan, not Germany. German pieces typically have the sophistication and artistry that most pieces produced in Japan lack. The market reflects that reality, as such items don’t typically fetch strong dollars.

10/09 Update: The only surprise is that it brought as much as $104.50.

Tim Ramzyk's New Masterpiece

Well, Tim Ramzyk, the master sculptor/artist behind the aptly named Pulp Novelties has scored another direct hit with his new lantern for the 2024 season. He calls it Night Owl. I just received it today and I think it is magnificent. I wish that I had some artistic ability. How does someone imbue a sculpture with sagacity AND a touch of menace?
Tim shared some information on availability that I will pass along: He will begin listing Night Owl in batches on Etsy beginning October 1st (etsy.com/shop/PulpNovelties), with plans to replenish on the 6th, 13th and 20th at 4:00 PM Central.
Understandably, Tim’s lanterns sell out very quickly. He makes them in limited quantities, they are of the highest sculptural artistry, the colors are inspired and the price is eminently reasonable. I don’t buy many newly produced items as space is limited, but I happily and routinely make an exception for Tim’s wares. You should, too! Happy Halloween!

Auction Listings - stnick22

Most years stnick22 treats us all to an impressive number of lots they place on eBay. This year is one during which they have listed nearly 200 listings, truly spanning the spectrum from lots that should be affordable to the newest cadre of collectors all the way to those hard-bitten souls who are close to having seen it all. I have received a fair amount of inquiries as to whether these listings are legit. (I’m glad that collectors are tuned in to the dangers present from scamsters in the vintage Halloween world.) The sellers, a long-married couple, have been active in the higher-end of holiday collectibles for decades. Yes, they are legit. I love a line in the listings that I could have written: We understand that many folks … are visual learners and explorers, and frankly, do not enjoy long winded … descriptions. Sellers, keep your descriptions crisp and succinct. Take excellent photos and minimize the verbiage.

10/03 Update: The prices realized spanned the gamut to “somewhat below what I would have expected” to “someone has way too much money.” The market seems strong for German lanterns, figurals and candy containers..

Vintage 1920's Dennison Jack O Lantern Acorn Halloween Seals - Full box of 20

It’s fun watching how the different segments comprising the entire vintage or secondary Halloween market change over time. A few seasons ago boxed Dennison items evoked some yawns. This has certainly not been the case over the last twelve months. I’ve been tracking boxed Dennison prices and to say they have strengthened would be spot on. And they should be strengthening. These boxed sets are largely ~100 years old. To find full boxes is truly something if you think about it. Seals have a tendency to clump and curl, so to find a full box of seals able to be displayed like the ones in this listing should achieve a strong result. Dennison items be they boxed, meant to be hung or meant to be displayed atop a table have long been one of my favorite segments. This particular set is compelling. The acorn faces are weirdly spooky and hard to find. They were offered for perhaps one or two seasons in the mid-1920s.

VERY RARE Antique German Halloween SKULL HEAD LANTERN

I review some results and wonder what possesses bidders. This is a good example. This German skull or ghost head lantern surfaces reasonably often. (Its RSIN is 3.) The baseline price has hovered between $800-1200 for many years, so someone actually bidding and paying $3,049.99 beggars the imagination. When you look at the bidding history, it’s apparent the action was driven by two dogged bidders once the reasonable threshold price of $651 was reached. The coup de grace was delivered by a bidder who sniped the prevailing bid. I wonder if buyer’s remorse has set in yet. The lantern does augment a display but the buyer will not see that price again for many moons.

Vintage Halloween 1913 Dennison’s Bogie Book - ULTRA RARE - NOT A REPRODUCTION

This is the only Bogie Book edition not part of the collection. I considered bidding on it, but its condition was too problematic. Others may have felt the same way as the listing should have brought significantly more dollars. It also just may be the time of the year. Many sellers make the mistake of listing vintage Halloween goods now. I find that from now through the end of the year is a great time to buy. The number of listings skyrocket while at the same time the average collector has finished their shopping for the year. Prices typically drop, sometimes precipitously. Bargains typically abound right now. Relative to this particular listing, it is nice to see such a quality item amongst all the dreck!

09/24 Update: I was surprised this Bogie didn’t fetch a higher price. It sold for only $676.

Vintage Halloween Lithograph Tin Toy Bell Noise Maker Pumpkin Black Cat Witch

These bells surface with some regularity and typically have brought ~$300-325. However, there have been three sales in the last 30 days wherein the bells have brought comfortably in the $400s. Is this an indicator of a resurgence in interest for Halloween tin litho items or is it specific to this bell for some reason? The tin litho market segment has remained tepid for many years now except for most tambourines and the seldom-seen noisemakers. I hope this market segment is springing back to life.

Very Rare Antique Vintage Unused Dennison Halloween Die cut Place Card

Even though I have a near-complete run of original Bogie Books and their brethren from 1909 through 1935 (I am missing the 1913 edition.), this place card being identified in a Bogie Book as being a Dennison item completely escaped my notice. It truly is a one-off from a Dennison design perspective. Who woulda thunk? Thanks so much to Anita R. for identifying it for me while she was visiting.

09/06 Update: This Dennison place card fetched a strong $224.50.

Vintage Antique Halloween German Die Cut Embossed Cat

The Germans produced an enormous number of heavily embossed diecuts during the 1920s and early 1930s. (A few were produced from ~1949-1953 as well…) This waving cat draws you right in, so it makes for a strong display element. Pair this with the waving skeleton shown on page 179 and you’ll have a killer diecut display. The condition appears to be near-mint or better. It’ll be fun to see what this friendly feline fetches.

1932 Beistle Skeleton Die-cut Halloween Decor Saw Tooth Embossed 30s RARE

There have been a few tantalizing lots recently in the vast garbage heap that eBay has become. (The fix to make eBay a viable marketplace once again would be for them to simply and definitively define vintage holiday selling categories. Create and police a Vintage Halloween {1900-1960} category. C’mon guys…) We have been blessed with two truly stellar listings of late, the mint NOMA set referenced directly below and now this much desired Beistle “skeleton in the graveyard” diecut. I do wonder if the seller has overshot by having the opening bid be $4,499.99. Let me explain why. I sold one of these diecuts in my last annual auction in March 2024 for a record shattering price of $4,700. The condition of that record setting item was every bit as nice as this one, but prior to March 2024 the highest public price paid for the diecut was ~$3,500. (One actually sold at a show in Ohio a few years back for a scant $700.) I don’t know how many collectors are willing or able to add an item - even a great one like this - to their collection for a known minimum of $4,499.99. I think to stoke interest the seller should have started it at $199.99 and let the auction run. Will anyone bid at this opening level?

09/06 Update: The answer to the question is yes. Someone actually placed a bid at the opening price of $4,499.99 so now there are two recent selling price points averaging $4,600.00.

09/16 Update: The buyer of this diecut contacted me to say the diecut was damaged in transit. The buyer was able to return it for a full refund.