Sometimes the way eBay reports ending prices is misleading. This is an example. A casual browser would assume this Dennison item sold for $500. When you dig a little, one discovers it sold for $200, still a hefty premium to what this design typically fetches. Dennison introduced a trio of these “Novelty Tallies” with mechanical action in 1928. (They can all be seen on page 258.) This witch emerging from her cauldron is the most interesting of the three.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
"RARE" 1920'S DENNISON MECHANICAL HALLOWEEN TALLY CARD WITCH IN POT-UNUSED& NMT
This witch mechanical tally first appeared in Dennison's 1928 Price List pamphlet. Dennison produced three designs of what they marketed as "novelty tallies." This one is more intricate than the other two designs, a cat head and a JOL. All are hard-to-find in working condition. You can see all three designs on page 258. These also had a dual purpose of being a place card.
12/07 Update: This sold for $240.50, a wholly unsustainable price.
vintage Dennison Halloween die cut tally card...jack-o-lantern...pull tab, mint
Dennison produced two designs of what they called "Novelty Tallies" beginning in 1928 and continuing for only a few seasons. (The other is a startled cat with a bell. It can be seen on page 258.) These typically trade for $65, so the buyer willingly paid a meaningful premium.
Vintage 1929-1930 DENNISON Black Cat Mechanical Tally Card
This cat head mechanical tally first appeared in Dennison's 1928 Price List pamphlet. Dennison produced three designs of what they marketed as "novelty tallies." The cat head and the JOL are somewhat less involved designs compared to the third one - a witch inside a flaming cauldron. All are hard-to-find in working condition. You can see all three designs on page 258.
