Vintage Halloween Graveyard Pop-Up Decoration, Hallmark 1960s, Original Envelope

An interesting market segment that has recently gotten definite heat are pop-ups from the 1960s. Those produced by Hallmark seem to be especially hot. I’ve recently sold several 1960s Hallmark pop-ups. Although their Haunted House is perennially popular, this 1960s graveyard pop-up is almost never seen. The fact that the original envelope is extant is a definite plus. It looks to be in very-fine-plus or better condition. This is definitely worth acquiring. I know this seller. He is a long-time collector and a truly nice person.

08/15 Update: I’m glad to see this fine pop-up fetched $280.

RARE Antique Vtg BEISTLE Halloween Party Invitation PopUp Witch JOL Cauldron 20s

This iconic pop-up invitation was produced in great quantities and usually sold in boxed sets of six. To my knowledge there is only one other Beistle pop-up invitation with a similar design and construction. This second version can be seen at the top-right of page 223. This version, with a now-revised RISN of “1” was sold singly in the early 1930s when Beistle was in a financial bind due to the Great Depression. At this time they rarely began a new design from scratch, instead co-opting elements from previous designs in order to save money. Consequently, the scarecrow pop-up invitation was made in significantly smaller quantities. (I’ve never seen one aside from the one in the collection.) The RSIN for these two items, 1 and 3, reflect this fact. The seller of this witch pop-up is long-time collector who is actually knowledgeable about the hobby. Honest as the summer day is long, you can buy from him with great confidence.

Vintage 1930s Halloween Party Invitation Card #1

This pop-up witch invite was produced by Beistle during the late 1920s. They produced another pop-up design a few years later featuring a scarecrow. To my knowledge, the scarecrow design hasn't come up for sale in many years. Check it out on page 223. 

09/11 Update: This sold for less than expected - $44.

ANTIQUE VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PAPER WITCH HAT GERMANY

Here is another result that defies understanding and will never be repeated. I think the pop-up 1920s German hat has superb graphics, but not $500 worth. Looking at as much of the bidding history that eBay now allows, it is apparent that two collectors with deep pockets were vying for this. I'd say the one who walked away without the hat is better off. There are at least three pop-up hat designs. They typically fetch a sum in the range of $150-200. I am shaking my head as I type this. Ridiculous....

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN ORIGINAL 1920's BIESTLE WITCH BLACK CAT PARTY INVITATION

This is a really great pop-up Beistle invitation produced during the 1920s. There is a second pop-up design that I've almost never seen for sale. Made in the early 1930s, it features a scarecrow rather than a witch. I've wondered why it is seen so rarely, and conjecture that maybe that design was never sold in boxed or enveloped sets, but instead just singly, as Dennison did with many of their designs at this same time. Readers, have you ever seen a boxed/enveloped set of the scarecrow pop-ups? (A single can be seen at the top of page 223.) 

Vintage Halloween Party Hat Witch Devil Black Cat

This pop-up hat was made in Germany during the 1920s. I've seen this style of hat several times, all with a different brim. The other brim is the same as shown on page 244 with a pleasing design of running cats. The thin tissue center is identical to the one in the book. I feel this checked brim is less visually appealing, so I wonder if it will affect what this ultimately brings. SGV is $160. 

05/23 Update: I feel the checked brim acted as a brake on the price this fetched as it brought $117.50. 

1925 Pop-Up Folding Halloween Party Invitation

The ending price of this remarkable pop-up invitation is another indicator of how strong the market is for unusual small paper. I recently purchased a sizable small paper collection out of Iowa. One invitation was from this same set. Also written in, it too had a date of 1925. Because I have never seen examples from this set surface prior to the last few months, I surmise these were made for a single season only. Given the graphics, the pop-up and the cool closing method (The "To Let" sign is perforated.) these were expensive in 1925. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PARTY INVITATION, 1927 BEISTLE POP UP WITCH WHEN OPENED

Beistle made at least two versions of these wonderful pop-up invitations. This example, the witch exulting over her cauldron, was sold in the late 1920s. (In fact, this was used in 1927.) A significantly rarer version shows a pop-up scarecrow along with three JOLs. Beistle issued this design beginning in the early 1930s and probably didn't make them that long since I've seen that version sold only singly. From what I know, an extant box has never surfaced. You can see the rarer design on page 223.