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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Antique/Vintage Halloween Unused Crepe Paper Apron With CA Reed Co. Label

I missed this listing, so am grateful to fellow collector, Darin, for flagging it for me. I’ve long wondered about the many commercially-produced vintage aprons seemingly made using Dennison crepe paper. Dennison, in all their many publications, doesn’t mention or show aprons actually made by the company. There are suggestions as to how to use their crepe paper, sure, but nothing to indicate that Dennison itself made aprons. Then this listing comes along with an intriguing clue. On the reverse of this apron, there is a small tag indicating the item was produced by C.A. Reed of Williamsport, PA. Was the tag present at the time of the original sale? If so, assuming the crepe with the JOL and two cats was actually produced by Dennison (I think it was, but crepe has never been a market segment at the top of my playlist.), then does the tag indicate some formal arrangement between Reed and Dennison? I love this hobby. Even after having been in it for decades, there is so much still to know.

09/27 Update: Another collector has shared that she, too, has seen a Dennison crepe apron with a Reed tag. Thanks, AR!

Vintage Halloween tin TAMBOURINE NOISEMAKER bat cat moon metal fabric paper skin

OK, this is a mash-up. This tin tambourine design was only produced with a decorated rim and plain taut paper front. The bit of crepe paper showing a broomed witch was added by some industrious person post-purchase no doubt wanting to make what is a plain front more visually interesting.

02/10 Update: This sold for $61.88, higher than I would have thought for an object that’s purely decorative.

"VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CREPE PAPER~OWL HOLDS SMILING JOL IN HIS CLAW~1930 DENNISON"

Crepe paper has been a hot sub-genre over the last few years. With designs like the one this fine seller offered, I can see why! One superb way to display crepe designs is to frame them. My good friends, Tammy and Barry, will have several eye-catching crepe paper designs framed and ready to sell at the American Folk Art Festival at the Madonna Estate Winery in Napa, CA on Saturday, September 6th from 10-3. There will be several people selling an assortment of vintage Halloween: Bobbie Lasky, Kimberlee Edgar, the aforementioned Tammy and Barry, as well as yours truly. (I have quite a lot of great vintage items I'll be selling, plus copies of my new book - so come on by!)