These tally cards with the four iconic images were produced by Beistle for too many years and in several packaging iterations. I also suspect they were sold singly in stationary stores. If you are going to see an example of Beistle’s small paper output, chances are very high you will see one of these four designs. They almost always have the now-pink ribbons. Frankly, the most interesting part of this listing is the envelope. I wish it was in better shape.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Vintage Halloween Tally Cards original pack of 5, bat, owl, witch, etc. 1950's ?
I hadn’t seen this particular packaging before viewing this listing. Beistle produced their tallies for many years in at least two sizes - and in several kinds of packaging, but this small windowed envelope was a new variant. I feel this nice set is from the later 1920s as the packaging is quite similar to a stunt game shown on page 17.
Vintage Halloween Dennison Pop Up Witch Tally card
Here is another anecdotal example of the 2014 surge in prices for pre-1935 Beistle, Dennison and Gibson items. This mechanical tally made by Dennison beginning in 1928 typically trades for ~$65. This surge is definitely a recent phenomenon. An identical tally was offered on Ebay several months ago with an opening bid of ~$45 and it failed to garner a single bid.
Vintage Halloween Tally Card
This great tally was made by Hallmark beginning in the later 1920s.
HALLOWEEN BRIDGE TALLY CARD PUMPKIN VOLLAND OLD VINTAGE
Volland, a clever manufacturer with typically understated designs, is sadly unheralded today. This tally is simple yet compelling. Not only is it a straightforward JOL, but in a very small form factor all four card suits have been subtly worked into the overall design - without seeming forced or god-forbid, cutesy. Volland's output wasn't too large. They merged with Gerlach Barklow in 1924, moving their operations from Chicago to Joliet. They were kaput by 1933.
Vintage/Antique Halloween 1920's Two-Piece Tally Card Beistle Bat
The seller doesn't provide measurements, but this looks to be the earliest iteration of these long-produced Beistle tally cards, and so it should measure 4.25" h x 2.5" w. As I write on page 218, "The actual tally is a card separate from the decorative top card. All sets are held together by their original pink strings. Beistle issued and reissued these items in various packaging for many seasons. The later iterations are taller and not as wide. I am assigning a Relative Scarcity Index number of '3' to this particular set as the older iterations are more difficult to find than their later counterparts."
Early vtg Halloween round TAlly Card Witch on Broom Black Cat HBC artist RARE
The initials on this tally card are actually HBG, with the G standing for Griggs. Nothing is known about H.B. Griggs, not even whether the artist was male or female. However, the artist's work is quirky and widely collected. This very same tally is shown on page 219. As an aside, the tally shown here is not stained. It appears to be in perfect condition.
09/22 Update: And it fetched a strong $53.00!
{ 3 } NEAR MINT 1940'S HALLMARK Vintage CAT OWL WITCH Halloween TALLY CARDS
The seller states that these are signed Hallmark. This surprises me as these are well-known Gibson designs. I've checked the photos to see where there is the Hallmark hallmark and see nothing. Am I too fussy in taking exception to the description of the trio as being "near-mint?"
