Fakes, etc.

I'll begin populating this page with photos of reproductions, fakes and fantasy items as I see them listed on eBay, Etsy and other such sites. Hopefully, collectors will refer to this page to minimize the occasions reproductions, fakes and fantasy items are unknowingly purchased. If you see something on this page that was sold to you purporting to be a vintage item, immediately send it back for a full refund. 

Vintage Halloween Paper Mache/Composite Witch with Black Hat Horn - Germany

These fantasy horns have been showing up regularly for years. This model is larger than the plethora of fake horns that have plagued the hobby since the 1990s. Laughingly, each is always described as minty, new/old stock, wonderful or some other such appellation that slyly denotes the reality that they were made as recently as yesterday. Don't be fooled by these objects. They have very modest decorative value only.. 

VINTAGE 1927 HALLOWEEN DAISY PUMPKIN FACE RING TOSS GAME IMMACULATE VERY RARE

This isn’t the real deal. This game was reproduced a few years ago. This seems to be a better quality fake. Except for the copied graphics, nothing is right about it. The thickness of the box and its height are wrong, the lack of a manufacturer’s name (It should be Schacht Rubber Manufacturing Company.) is wrong, the laughably flimsy rings are wrong. Be on guard for fakes. This hobby is too expensive to waste money ignorantly.

03/15 Update: You have to love this seller. Once he learned that this item was a reproduction, he immediately ended the listing and relisted it as a reproduction - no fuss, no muss. He also had an excellent sense of humor about it. Read his verbiage in the relisting. It will bring a smile to your face. He writes: “I’d like to get $100 for it, but I’d also like to be dating Emmy Rossum.” You just have to appreciate there are still people in this world who approach situations that aren’t advantageous to them with a ready quip. Bravo!

German Halloween Devil’s Head Candy Container in Original Box

This is a newer twist on an old problem - fantasy items. The seller states that this was obtained 30 years ago. This devil head fantasy item first appeared in 1995, so the seller mustn’t be very adept at math. The new twist, surely meant to fool, is the presence of the “original box.” Look carefully, vow not to be taken for a chump, laugh and walk right on by this listing.

New Old Stock 1950's Chalkware Halloween Cat & Moon Germany

This is not a vintage item. It was made by Radko within the last 10 years or so. It is distressing to see that somebody wasted their collecting dollars on something that has decorative value only. People: This hobby has become pricey enough that one MUST do their research before buying anything. Go to one of the tabs above this post and buy a copy of my reference, Vintage Halloween Collectibles, 3rd Edition. 

Vintage Halloween 1920's German diecut? Beistle, Dennison, Eureka.

I am really surprised that people haven't figured out that is is a newly made item based loosely on the truly vintage German fireplace screen diecut made during the 1920s. (There was recently a cache of these truly vintage screens unearthed. They have been offered so frequently that the price has decidedly turned down. It may be several years before the prices for the vintage screens regain ground.) In any event, right now this reproduction or fake is at $381 with 4+ days to go. In this hobby, research is vital to avoid being taken in by such offerings. 

10/31 Update: This screen was made by Bethany Lowe in 2006. Another one sold for several hundred dollars. In both cases, buyers figuratively poured their money down the drain. 

Yellow Halloween Lantern Head Back Cat Confectionery Candy Bisque/Card Box c1930

This is a fantasy item I've not seen before, so prepare to see many more of them over the year. This abomination is being sold by a dealer in England who claims to have only a pair to sell. (Trust me, if this sells to an under-informed bidder for solid dollars, this seller will surely discover some more!) The claim in the listing's headline is that this item is from the 1930s - a claim not made in the body of the listing. This is not old and has zero collectible value.

03/21 Update: Two bidders got snookered by prevailing on these two lots with the exact same bid - $127.50. Prepare to see more of this fake. 

ANTIQUE VINTAGE HALLOWEEN WITCH NOISE MAKER. 1930's Germany MINTY RARE

These fake horns have been showing up these last few years. This model is larger than the plethora of fake horns that have plagued the hobby since the 1990s. Laughingly, each is always described as this one is - minty! (Of course they are minty - they were made as recently as yesterday!) Don't be fooled by these objects. They have very modest decorative value only.. 

Antique German Halloween Pumpkin Head Candy Container ca1920

This is a fake, patterned on the one shown on page 132. This container has been faked in several sizes, all having some issue with the nose in common. Since the only authentic one has a repaired nose, there isn't a template for the fakers to use other than the one shown on page 132. This example is more cleverly rendered than others, given its use of a cotton batting nose, but it is still an object possessing decorative value only. An authentic example would bring ~$2000. 

Vintage Halloween Nodder Candy Containers Veggie Men Germany 5 different iob

These fantasy items were made after 1995 and have zero collectible value. This seller, unfortunately, is impervious to learning, as she and I have had many interactions wherein she insists these kinds of things have some true age to them. There is no documentary evidence that these abominations were made prior to around 1995 when they began appearing at antiques shows. The seller bangs on about what a bargain a buyer will get purchasing these as a set, but unless you want to pour money down a drain for items that have decorative value only, steer clear of these items. Many of this seller's offerings in the Vintage Halloween category are fantasy items, so be sure to ask many questions if you choose to do business with her. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CANDY CONTAINER UGLY JOL JACK O LANTERN

This is not a vintage candy container. The genuine article, which you can see on page 132, measures ~4.5" high, far more compact than this abomination. This POS was surely modeled after the one in the collection due to the nose. The genuine article has a piece of felt at the nose, attached by a prior owner to hide a chip. The reproducers either didn't know that or didn't care, blithely copying what they could see from my references. This has zero vintage value. Don't be fooled. 

VINTAGE HITCHY-WITCHY COLLECTIBLE HALLOWEEN SKILL GAME

This is a poorly done fake, characteristic of so many of the items this seller offers. This seller has been on my list of those with whom I do not do business for many years. It seems that every "vintage" Halloween item this person offers is problematic. They used to sell these with no verbiage on the handle. I pointed out this deception in my references. Now I see this seller has made what looks to be a very poor copy of the verbiage and transferred it to the handle somehow. On genuine items, the wording is bold and clear, unlike the muddled mess this fake shows. Even the borders of the handle are poorly done. I'm sorry to see someone wasted $36.52 on this POS. If you're a reader, get your money returned! 

Large vintage Halloween paper mache pouncing black cat decoration 1930’s-1940’s

This is the second one of these "vintage" cats that has been listed in the last 10 days. This was made off-shore somewhere - probably China - perhaps as recently as last week. It has all the styling panache that one would expect from a poorly designed POS. Please don't make the mistake some poor soul recently made and purchase one of these for more than its decorative value - $14.99.