I used to see more of these than I have recently. These were reproduced in the later 1990s and after, but these reproductions are easy to identify. The truly vintage slot and tab skull lanterns will always have this tan toning to the surface whereas the new ones are very white. Please keep this in mind if you see this lantern design for sale online or in shops.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CARDBOARD BLACK CAT-PART OF A PULL TOY
This seller, who has been selling Halloween items for many years, really should have been able to identify this remnant. It wasn’t “…originally part of a pull toy.” It was a part of a slot and tab decoration manufactured by Dolly Toy as part of their acquired Fibro Toy line during the 1930s. You can see the complete item on page 296.
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN BLACK CAT AGAINST A FULL MOON HARD CARDBOARD CANDY CONTAINER
This is a large and colorful identically dual-sided slot and tab candy holder made by an unknown manufacturer. I was only able to add one to the collection perhaps 6 years ago, so these are not plentiful. When I got it I was surprised at just what a powerful display item it is! This one looks to be in nice condition. The last one ended on eBay almost exactly one year ago and sold for an astounding and unsustainable price of $347.98.
10/02 Update: This sold for a somewhat more reasonable price of $255.
Early '50's HALLOWEEN Grinning Black CAT Candy Container-Party Hat-Orange Moon
This is a large and colorful identically dual-sided slot and tab candy holder made by an unknown manufacturer. I was only able to add one to the collection perhaps 5 years ago, so these are not plentiful. When I got it I was surprised at just what a powerful display item it is! This one looks to be in remarkable condition. I greatly appreciate the fine seller being very specific about condition.
10/08 Update: This excellent candy holder sold for an astounding $347.98. SGV is $85.
Vintage Halloween JOL man pulling cart Candy Container Dolly Toy
This brought a very strong price considering its condition. Dolly Toy made a small number of Fibro Toys and were pretty disciplined about marking their wares. Unusually, this candy holder is never marked. I know it was made by Dolly Toy as I have one of their catalogs showing it for sale. With the cat and witch wheeled candy holders, be cautious of reproductions. The reproductions use thinner, high-gloss paper stock.
JACK-O-LANTERN HALLOWEEN CANDY CONTAINER VINTAGE (??) PULL TOY BAT CAT WITCH OWL
I haven't seen one of these come up for sale in some time. This slot-and-tab candy box was made by the Dolly Toy Company of Dayton, Ohio under their Fibro Toy line. The items were produced sporadically between 1934 and 1953, much less regularly than the witch pulling cart and cat pulling cart Fibro Toys. These are never marked for some reason. They have not yet been reproduced. It'll be fun to see what this brings!
08/14 Update: This brought a healthy premium to guide value: $338.33 versus $250.
Vintage Halloween Paper Candy Containers Slot&Tab Dual Sided Witch,JOL,OWL LOT4
Whomever scooped up this lot of four great items for $109.50 scored a real bargain. Although these could not accurately be described as rare, to be able to acquire four of the set of six for such a discount to sustained value is an accomplishment. Kudos to the lucky prevailing bidder.
Vintage Halloween Candy Holder G.M. Company
Items from this set have long been among my favorites due to their whimsical nature. Slot and tab construction enabled manufacturers like the General Merchandise Company to ship large quantities of cardboard candy holders throughout the United States for a relative pittance as they weigh little and lay flat. The G.M. Company made some cleverly designed and very rare candy holders and decorations. Although the set this particular candy holder is from isn't particularly rare, others are. Check out the two very desirable holders made by the G.M. Company on page 53, plus the magnificent table decoration on page 296. This seller is a friend and someone I wouldn't (and don't) hesitate to buy from.
1950s Halloween 6 1/2" Pumpkin Pulling Cart Cardboard Table Decoration w/ Candy!
This is one of the best candy holders Fibro designed - in my opinion. Given the length of its production run, 1934-1953, relatively few of these surface compared to the witch pulling the hay cart and the black cat pulling a JOL cart. (All can be seen on pages 52-53.) Unlike the other two, this one hasn't been reproduced to my knowledge. Interestingly, a marked example has never surfaced. Sustainable guide value is $250.
Black Cat Candy Container USA Fibro Toy Dolly Toy Co Nut Cup Tab & Slot Cdbd
Although there is no public ending price on this Fibro Toy manufactured by the Dolly Toy Company of Dayton, Ohio in the mid-1930s, it was definitely near guide price of $90. As I state on page 296, "A cache of these in near-mint condition was found in late 2011, lowering prices as collectors see them more routinely. Obtain one now while the supply is relatively abundant and prices are reasonable."
Vintage Halloween Skeleton Cardboard Candy Container Marked
Good to see these finally getting the market recognition they deserve. The General Merchandise Company made this set of slot and tab containers. This is one from the complete set of six. (All can be seen on page 54.) G.M. also issued other Halloween-themed slot and tab containers that are far less common yet possess the same sense of odd whimsy seen in their most widely sold set. I have become a fan of their output, so routinely search for their harder-to-find items. (Examples of some of these can be seen on pages 53 and 296.)
