VINTAGE HALLOWEEN BEISTLE DIECUT DECORATION - RUSTIC FIREPLACE/WITCH’S CAULDRON

Beistle was (and possibly still is) a clever company in figuring out ways to prolong the life of certain of their Halloween best sellers, like the cauldrons. I think for a season, and possibly two, between 1928 and 1932 Beistle thought to slap some streamers to the bottom of the largest of the three cauldrons and design a rather pallid structure to support the cauldron. They then dreamed up the name for this newish design and hurriedly created an envelope for it. I feel all of this was done rapidly as the Rustic Fireplace itself is uninspired. The envelope bears none of the over-the-top design elements and use of vibrant colors seen with so many of their other envelopes. That said, these original Rustic Fireplaces are hard to find. (The envelope, which you can see on page 127, almost never surfaces.) The sellers are great people with a deep love for and knowledge of vintage Halloween memorabilia. You can certainly buy from them with great confidence. It’ll be fun to what this listing brings.

06/16 Update: This brought a head-scratchingly low $159.50. The buyer got a bargain.

vtg 1930/40s USA Halloween Die-Cut Witches Cauldron 3D 4 Piece Honeycomb Set

Here is what I wrote about this item in my 2nd edition in 2007:
"One of the most interesting of Beistle’s many tabletop decorations is its Rustic Fireplace. It is billed on the envelope as including an “Old Witches’ Beauty Caldron.” It consists of a lithoed paper and honeycomb cauldron with orange streamers attached to the bottom to simulate flames. (This was an ingenious way to boost sales of an already popular item.) Since these cauldrons were only made from 1926 through 1931, it stands to reason the Rustic Fireplace dates to this time. This is further buttressed by the use of Beistle’s diamond mark on the packaging. The detailed lithoed cardboard props and crossbar containing a hook for the cauldron are all representative of Beistle’s high quality. These measure 10.5" high by 15" wide. The cauldron measures 8" high by 8.5" wide. This complete set is valued at $800 to $1,000." 
I think the values for these items has drifted somewhat downward in the intervening 6+ years. Collectors I speak with don't find the props and crossbar all that interesting. I also hear complaints about how much room it takes to display the set in its entirety. Most collectors seem to want the cauldron but without the crepe paper "flames" as they prevent the cauldron from sitting evenly. Given the condition of the cauldron, it will be instructive as to what this set fetches. 

11/08 Update: $271.33 was the ending price for this item. I see the value for this set in near-perfect condition hovering around $450-500 these days.