Very Rare1950s Antique Vintage Halloween Star Molding Box 12 Black Cat Candles

It’s a treat to see items I’ve not seen before. Star Molding Corporation was a family-run firm that seems to have left East Aurora, NY after a fire in 1956. They almost certainly had a regional reach only, far eclipsed by their much more established competitor, Gurley, of Buffalo, NY. I think it is more likely this set is from the late 1940s rather than the 1950s. The graphics, especially the way Halloween is spelled with the apostrophe, lead me to this conclusion. I can see the appeal of this complete set. With the great instruction/advertising card, it would make for a killer display. At what price will it end? Many of us will be watching!

08/04 Update: This sold for $585.

Vintage Halloween Candles Columbia Wax Works Original Box

When I first began collecting, this box of candles would sell for $10 on a good day. It shows just how this market has gentrified over the decades. My main worry about this fine hobby is this: Is it becoming too expensive for the average collector?

GREAT ANTIQUE VINTAGE HALLOWEEN WITCH, BLACK CAT, & OWL CANDLES NEVER BEEN USED

This lot consisting of three candles is unusual in that I’ve not seen any of these designs before. I wonder if the witch could be by Gurley? I don’t think the other two are. I feel the owl is the star of the lot.

Vintage Box of Jack-O’-Lantern Candles Pacific Candle Co.

This result is surprising. The item, issued by the Pacific Candle Company of Hayward, CA during the 1950s, is relatively common. It generally trades for around $20, complete. With this example, the box isn't pristine and the candles have clumped together making it far less desirable. 

vintage GURLEY O-PEE-CHEE Halloween Candles FULL CASE Lot of 12 NOS New

Candles are an excellent genre for those starting out in our fun hobby as they were typically nicely molded and remain affordable. The buyer of this lot got a solid deal as they were able to acquire a dozen nice candles and its unusual box for only $150. I say the box is unusual primarily because it represents goods sold in Canada. I am not sure if I've seen this particular iteration before. There were a good number of holiday candle manufacturers. Gurley was arguably the most skilled purveyor of these now-vintage candles as their designs were numerous and often inventive. 

Vintage Halloween Gurley Candle Lot x7 Witch Ghost JOL Black Cat

Vintage candles are a great entry genre for new collectors. There are many different ones, all with invitingly low price points. In this lot, the black cat at the left and the larger witch are the best of the bunch, alone justifying the price at which the entire lot changed hands. Be careful when storing these. Some friends were unhappy to discover their candles had congealed into one multi-colored pool from being stored in an outdoor shed in a plastic tub. 

VTG JACK O' LANTERN CANDLES FOR HALLOWEEN BY SOCONY STANDARD OIL CO NEW YORK

Isn't this just the best-looking box of candles? I love the graphics and the coloration. 

RARE Vintage Halloween candles Skulls and JOLs

The trio of JOL candles was made by Avon in the mid-1990s, so they are not truly vintage except if you really distort the meaning of that word. 

Great early Halloween Jack O Lantern candle box w/candles Socony Standard Oil Co

This is an exceptional example of a decorative candle box, arguably the best I have ever seen. It went for a song, much to my chagrin. I had this on my "watch list" and simply forgot to bid. Congratulations to the attentive buyer!