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.

2 Vintage Halloween Skull Skeleton Cardboard Paper Folding Lanterns Decorations

Know that when purchasing vintage lanterns, it’s quite common for the bottoms to be missing, as they are with this listing. Although new bottoms can be fashioned somewhat easily if you have the proper tools and supplies, most collectors aren’t so equipped. (I know I’m not!) If you want these old lanterns to be displayed as they were meant to be, hold out for those with their original bottoms extant.

SUPER RARE Vintage Halloween Large Jointed Devil Diecut Decoration Beistle 1920s

Beistle released this suggestive devil design during the mid-1920s. They then released one without the tail, possibly due to feedback from their more prudish retailers, which is more commonly seen. The designs have never done much for me even though I generally appreciate the grimmer designs. The three-legged version and the more modest version both lack the charm of most of Beistle’s output at this time. I feel the designs lack inspiration. That said, this version typically brings strong dollars. Given the wealth of upscale listings from this fine seller, it’ll be informative to see if the number of listings impact the overall prices fetched.

07/24 Update: This sold for $555.

Vintage Orig. 1923 "Halloween Party Decorations" 30 Pcs. Beistle Co. Org. Env.

Beistle made three iterations of their 1923 party set: boxed, enveloped and in a booklet form. (The latter was produced with both orange pages and white pages. The color of the pages doesn't seem to impact value.) The boxed and enveloped sets are quite a bit harder to find than the booklet form. The envelopes of the enveloped set are nearly always in poor shape, as was this example. Still, it nearly reached SGV of $400. 

Fantastic vintage 1935 Beistle 57"" "Dangling Skeleton" with original envelope!!

This is a tough item to find in collectible condition. The seller is correct - this is a large, impressive item. The asking price is too high. SGV is $175. He has placed a "Make Offer" option to the listing, so he knows the asking price is aggressive. If you want this great item, I feel the outer edge of the pricing atmosphere is $225. 

09/06 Update: Someone with a deep pocket actually paid $345 for this, surely a new record. 

Vintage Halloween Beistle Owl Tell Your Fortune Game

This is an extraordinary result for a somewhat common fortune and stunt game in this condition. These nicely designed games were issued by Beistle from 1955-1961. In unused condition, these typically fetch around $100, so someone really wanted this well-used item. As in nearly all such instances, this result came about by just two determined bidders. If you look at the bidding history, these two ratcheted the price up between them to this level, certainly making the surprised seller ecstatic. 

Beistle Skairo Halloween Jointed Bug Figure

Beistle issued two versions of Skairo. One smiles and the other scowls. These are very avidly sought after, evidenced by this example, in good at best condition, bringing nearly $315. The version sold was made in 1929, while its brother was manufactured in 1931. Beistle issued two other figures with lightning bolt-shaped bodies. You can see all of these on page 149. 

Nice Vintage Halloween Witch Decoration

This listing made me smile. This seller routinely places bewilderingly high prices on the most common of things, with no apparent consideration given for condition. This is a very common diecut that Beistle made for many, many seasons. Given its ubiquity and condition, the price I'd expect it to fetch would be south of $10.