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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

RARE HUGE EARLY Vintage Halloween Johnny Pumpkinhead Diecut Decoration, Beistle!

I think this seller’s conclusion that this is a design from the first year of production of Beistle’s Johnny Pumpkin family, 1919, is spot-on. I checked my ultra-rare 1921 Beistle catalog to look at the illustrations. The nose seen on the one up for auction is nowhere to be seen. My theory is that a Beistle art/design manager wanted the Johnnys to look more like traditional JOLs, hence the rhinoplasty job. I love learning this kind of design info. Thanks for being so observant, Cindy!

Vintage Halloween Party Favors in original package of Five. Marked Beistle, USA

This is an envelope variant for the smallest of the Johnny Pumpkin family I haven’t seen before. The envelope is so plain! However, it sure is in nice condition and has its original contents. With only an hour to go, it has reached $405. Each of this-sized member of the family typically brings $80-90, so any further movement would represent what the bidders feel the envelope is worth.

beistle Johnny pumpkin head

As a long-time collector it is fun and informative to see what genres wax and wane over the years. These Johnny Pumpkin table top decorations produced by Beistle with few exceptions from 1919-1921 have been enjoying a good waxing for several years now. The most common ones are 5” tall and sell for $70-100 most days. The 8” versions, like the two in this listing, have been very strong sellers for several years. Whereas they used to fetch $100, they sometimes now bring $200+ each. (Of the two in this lot, the one staring straight forward is marginally harder to find.) The 16” designs are nearly impossible to find. The single 20” design is so rare that I’ve only seen it three times in over 30 years of very active collecting. All designs above 8” bring nearly unfathomable prices.

Set 5 Vtg c 1920 Original Beistle Halloween Party Favors Stand Up JOL Decoration

This lot of Johnny Pumpkin figures was made by Beistle between 1923 and 1925. The "family" was made in sizes ranging from 5" to 20.25". This lot contains the smallest of the family, and perhaps the hardest-to-find variation. The smallest Johnny Pumpkins had three variants. This is the third variant - being smaller, brighter and possessing a folding prop that is part of the original art, rather than the glued-on easel always found with the other sizes. The packaging is plainer than the example in the collection, perhaps indicating this was manufactured earlier in the date range. The ending price was higher than guide, but that could be a function of the lot surfacing when almost nothing of quality was available on eBay. 

(4) 1920's BEISTLE CO. JOHNNY PUMPKIN HEAD BROWNIE, UNUSED, EXCELLENT CONDITION

We'll be seeing a fair number of these ~8" Beistle Johnny Pumpkins as there was an auction last week in Twin Falls, Idaho wherein several lots containing multiples - all unused - were sold. The auction house used my site for research but didn't think to alert me to the auction until the day after it ended. What is notable about this Johnny Pumpkin is that it demonstrates how careless Beistle was in their manufacture. As I write on page 122, "Beistle was seemingly not prepared for the success of this line and cranked them out with limited quality control relative to exactly how the designs by size were replicated." So, look at the hand holding the cat's paw. Part of the paw, part of the hand and part of the lace is missing. This isn't a flaw in the condition, but a flaw in the manufacturing. 

1920 SET OF 5 PUMPKIN HEAD FAVORS IN ENVELOP MADE IN USA BLACK CAT

The prevailing bidder made a smart purchase of this rare enveloped set, although the price ended higher than I would have forecast. Beistle made three iterations of the smallest of their Johnny Pumpkin family of diecuts. The ones sold in this lot represent the third and rarest of the iterations. As I write on page 123, "This is the final variant of this size. These are smaller, brighter and have no easels. Instead, there is a prop that unfolds from the side enabling the item to stand." These were made during the span 1923-1925. The set shown in the reference was made later during that range, while this one was made earlier during that range. How is this determined? Beistle's first inclination was to issue things in somewhat plain envelopes, with envelopes getting more ornate during the production run. Check out the differences. 

VINTAGE BEISTLE HALLOWEEN JOHNNY PUMPKIN HEAD WITH STAND

The Johnny Pumpkin family of decorations was made by Beistle during a short window of 1919-1922, except for this size, the smallest of the litter, which was made in three variations through 1925. This is an example of the third variant, which I describe on page 123 this way: "This is the final variant of this size. These are smaller, brighter and have no easels. Instead, there is a prop that unfolds from the side enabling the item to stand. This was sold with stock number 514." 

BEISTLE VINTAGE HALLOWEEN DECORATION PUMPKIN HEAD W BLACK OWL CARDBOARD CUTOUT

Early Beistle paper has been white hot for some many years now. (Nothing points to this lessening!) The latest evidence is this auction result. Beistle began manufacturing these Johnny Pumpkins in 1919 and continued their creation only through the 1921 season. Here is what I wrote about this product line (appears on page 122): "Beistle issued the family in these formally designated sizes, all non-embossed on flat stock, medium weight cardboard: five inch, eight inch, eleven inch, sixteen inch and twenty inch, although there are variations to size of as much as one and one-quarter inch with nearly all of them....Beistle didn't take great care in differentiating designs within sizes. Sometimes the differences are obvious but sometimes the differences are just a matter of how much neck line, or lace or collar shows. Beistle was seemingly not prepared for the success of this line and cranked them out with limited quality control relative to exactly how the designs by size were replicated. This becomes more obvious the more examples one gathers together to compare." The one selling here for $136.49 was in very rough shape, yet still brought what it did. 

1920s Beistle Die Cut Halloween Johnny Pumpkin Head Easel Back Stand Up

This seller is very optimistic if she thinks this will fetch $275. In perfect condition, these at one time brought $100, but now they routinely bring significantly less. 
Beistle made an entire "family" of these in varying sizes and design. This small one, measuring ~5.25" is the most common design by a wide margin. Please see pages 122-124 for a nearly complete array of these Johnny Pumpkin designs. 

Rare Lg Johnny Pumpkin Head Halloween Die-Cut by Beistle

I am glad to see these very odd Beistle creations finally getting their day in the sun. Beistle issued several different sizes from 1919-1921. A very nice and representative selection is shown on pages 122-124. Here is some of the text describing the Johnny Pumpkin decorations from my new third edition: 
Beistle issued the family in these formally designated sizes, all non-embossed on flat stock, medium weight cardboard: five inch, eight inch, eleven inch, sixteen inch and twenty inch, although there are variations to size of as much as one and one-quarter inch with nearly all of them. The smallest size was made for several seasons more than all of the others. This smallest size had three iterations and was generally sold in envelopes with quantities ranging from five to ten per envelope. This size is commonly seen today. The other sizes are much less common with this proviso: the bigger they get the harder they are to find.
Beistle didn’t take great care in differentiating designs within sizes. Sometimes the differences are obvious but sometimes the differences are just a matter of how much neck line, or lace or collar shows. Beistle was seemingly not prepared for the success of this line and cranked them out with limited quality control relative to exactly how the designs by size were replicated. This becomes more obvious the more examples one gathers together to compare.

1920s Beistle vintage Johnny Pumpkin w/owl 11 in. stand up Halloween decoration

I hope to see many more Johnny Pumpkin iterations listed this season, as I've always liked them. The seller has pointed out several condition issues with this item. Here are two more: The protrusion at the top of the head is missing. Although not always part of the design, it was with this particular one. Also, this item has had its fair share of sun, or exposure to light, as it is quite faded. If you want to see a nice assortment of Johnny Pumpkin designs, check out pages 122-124 of my newly published third edition. 

08/06 Update: Even with numerous condition issues, this item fetched $45.77, a very strong result!