Vintage 1929 Colorful "The Call" Halloween Party Invitation

This cleverly designed Dennison invitation was first sold in 1928. It isn’t one that often surfaces. This listing is a good illustration of why the small paper market segment is so hot. (Although at times overheated, I feel certain items from certain producers still have a ways to run.) Most of the time what comes up for sale is just like this invitation - used and then kept as a souvenir of a memorable event by being placed in a scrapbook. The delta in value between one in usual condition and one in near-mint condition is sometimes multiples of the former. Some collectors are laser-focused on condition while others appreciate an item for the journey on which it has traveled. I appreciate this seller listing this item as a true auction with a low opening bid rather than the too-often-seen “auctions” where the opening price represents the full value (sometimes plus) of an item. Let’s hope this rare invite does well.

02/23 Update: This sold for $69, a tad lower than I would have forecast.

Vintage Halloween Dennison Invitation THE CALL 1929 Rare

Dennison’s output from these years is top-notch. Their design aesthetic was amazing. It is great to see such a rare invitation in such great condition. This first appeared in the 1928 Dennison Price List pamphlet with a stock number of H580.

11/06 Update: This item sold for a ridiculous $510. Anyone wanting the mint one from my collection can buy it for $500.

Halloween Dennison Invitation, THE CALL, 1929, JOL Reads Book, Rare

I've come to the opinion that some of Dennison's finest work can be found in the small paper they produced from 1928-1932. Given the greater economic forces at work during much of that interval, production was sharply curtailed, making items made at this time largely hard to find. This invitation, The Call, was sold singly in shops with an inventory number of H580. It first appeared in Dennison's 1928 Price List pamphlet. During the last few years, small paper has been a hot segment of the market. This seller is a long-timer collector with an exceptional eye for good design. I have long enjoyed doing business with her and give her my highest recommendation. 

One Vintage Halloween DENNISON party invitation PUMPKIN HEAD Book THE CALL

The date on this nicely designed Dennison invitation is interesting. This item first appeared in a Dennison 1928 Price List pamphlet. This rather battered survivor has an inked date of 1938 which means that either Dennison sold these for ~10 seasons or (more likely) that the original party giver was a pack rat who held on to the pack of invitations until another party opportunity arose. I give more credence to the latter possibility because this design is seen seldom enough that it warrants an RSIN of 2.