The seller noted that some fellow collector had concerns as to whether this candy container was truly vintage. Several things puzzle me: What was the specific concern? Was it a true concern or was the concern conveyed to the seller for mischievous reasons? Why would the seller not have had the confidence in her own judgment to ignore the fellow collector rather than give the expressed concern any airtime? The actual owner of this wonderful candy container contacted me to ask whether I had seen the listing and whether I had formed an opinion. (This owner is one of the most knowledgeable, honest and picky collectors I know - and he’s been in the hobby for longer than I have. By the way, I admire pickiness.) I told him that on the few occasions this container surfaces, I make a point of looking at the photos. Why? Well, many serious collectors have invested in a copy of my third edition. On page 69, relative to this candy container design, I write, “Reproduced versions of this container with a smaller pumpkin base were made beginning in the mid-1990s. These new versions tend to be heavier and lack the detailing of the originals.” Truly vintage examples of this particular candy container are easy to identify vis-a-vis the soulless reproductions cranked out beginning in about 1995. When I glanced at the photos the seller provided I thought that it was a beautiful, truly vintage container that any collector should be proud to own. And it is.
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RARE Antique Vintage Halloween Paper Mache Pulp Owl Wall Decoration FN Burt 20s!
This F.N. Burt owl design is exceedingly rare, especially with this pleasing use of two colors. The light spray of the coloration, giving it a pastel feel, is exquisite. I have had two examples of this pulp item come through over the years. Both were a simple black. This design was meant to be hung. Neither of the examples I have handled had any sort of perforation to the back. Some end-user or end-users added the divot and the hole. Neither would have been present at the time of sale. The ending price was more than I would have expected.
Interest has been strong in these non-embossed thin-paper-stock diecuts Beistle produced during the early 1920s.Beistle produced a handful of designs, then varied their offerings by size. This is the larger version of the broomed witch diecut. These diecuts bend and crease easily. The typical example is riddled with pinholes. This particular example seems quite crisp, so I’m not surprised the prevailing bidder paid $77. I do hope the bidder objected to it being sent Priority Mail. There isn’t any reason to send something that weighs an ounce or two via Priority Mail. On another note, I dislike when sellers cram a series of disjointed words into the title line hoping the search function will highlight the listing.
1960s Vintage Halloween Gurley Jack-o-lantern Candles in Original Package
~Vintage~ Halloween Wooden Drum- Devil and Pumpkin~ Germany~
Vintage Halloween Series 6931 Fairman, Pink of Perfection Postcard
Vintage Halloween Small 4” Tin Lithograph Horn 1920’s Marked Made In Germany
SCARCE Antique Vintage Halloween 2-Sided Skull Lantern Decor Dolly Toy 1936-50s!
If you’re in the market for this skull lantern, this example demonstrates exactly what you want to see - a rich tan patina. When this was first produced decades ago, the lantern presented as off-white. But given the high acid content of the cardboard stock used, truly vintage lanterns will always have this kind of patina. This lantern design was reproduced some years back. I still see them now and then. They present as white - sometimes a bright white. If you see such a lantern, it isn’t vintage.
1930’s Extremely Rare ( Beistle ) Hallowe’en Stunt Game ( Complete )
This game was produced by Beistle for a season or two beginning in 1930. It is hard to find complete, and in collectible condition. This looks like a fine example. Beistle produced a boxed version as well, otherwise identical.
07/28 Update: This sold for what I’m sure is a record price of $1,009.99.
If anyone wants mine for the same price….
antique Trade Card McLaughlin's XXXX Coffee fold out Halloween Pumpkin Head
Admittedly, this trade card is exceedingly rare. This is only the second time I’ve seen it.) A few years ago I was invited to a collector’s home in southern California who had a few Halloween things amongst her main collecting area, advertising. She had a few Halloween things she was open to selling. Although the outside of the home looked normal, inside it was a dust bowl. A hoarder, the house was hard to maneuver through. Sadly, it was filthy, so I quickly exited as I didn’t have a respirator. She had great German candy containers that were so covered in dust it was difficult to see much of them. She had Christmas feather trees that were so laden with dust that the old ornaments hanging there so forlornly long ago had lost any shine. How does someone live like that? She had tossed some items she was open to selling on a bed that reminded me of the bed lived upon by Big Edie in the great film, Grey Gardens. Out of this pitiful dreck, I seized upon the McLaughlin Coffee trade card in surprisingly good condition - just before I could no longer hold my breath. It cleaned up well!) The condition of this example gives me pause. Someone wanted it badly enough to pay $72, making me wonder what the one in the collection is worth.
Vintage Halloween Toy Noise Maker Clapper Black Cat US Metal Tin Party Favor
I’ve seen a noted and sustained strengthening to the tin litho noisemaker market segment over the last year. Prices for tambourines by and large have remained strong over the last 15 years, but the same can’t be said for other forms of noisemakers. Yes, unusual tin items routinely bring strong dollars, but prices for common noisemakers have largely languished. With data points like the one below, I feel this is finally changing. The US Metal Toy example shown is common yet it fetched a strong $49.99. There has been a large influx of new collectors into our hobby, seemingly undaunted by the cost of building a collection these days. I feel that much of this new money is being spent in market segments that are still relatively inexpensive - like tin litho noisemakers.
Vintage (T. Conn) Witch, JOL Ghost Halloween Noise Maker, Made in U.S.A.
BOXED SET Of 5 Antique Vintage Halloween Witch Silhouettes Dennison 1920s
Even though boxed Dennison items are having another turn in the sun, this result surprised me. The set contains only 5 of the original 18 illuminated silhouettes. The front example is incomplete and the box has condition issues. Yet, it still brought $355. If someone wants my complete and mint set shown on page 252 top/left, it can be yours for $750.
Incredibly Rare Vintage Halloween Waving Jack O' Lantern Die-cut Germany 1920's
This seller listed four items with stratospheric opening prices. When I saw them while enjoying the wilds of Montana, I felt that only one would sell - and that one did. This seller had two German diecuts (skull and crossbones with hat and a black melon with transparency) that typically fetch below $1,200 with an opening price of $3,499 and $4,299, respectively. The third item was the Beistle skeleton-in-graveyard diecut with an opening ask of what would be a record price - $4,099. (I sold one in my 2024 auction for the still-valid public record price of $3,700.) However, when I saw this waving JOL I knew someone would buy it. The record price for this item was set several years ago for ~$6,600 - and that example was inferior in condition than this fantastic item.) It will be interesting to see if this seller relists the three with opening asks more in line with the market.
Vintage Halloween Witch On Rocket Rosbro Kokomold Candy Container Pumpkin Wheels
The Kokomold hard plastic market segment has been on fire these last few months. I feel collectors are waking up to Kokomold’s “out-there” design aesthetic and attention to detail. (Just look at those wheels!) I had foolishly spurned the entire hard plastic segment for decades until I realized how fun it was to incorporate Kokomold (specifically) pieces into some cabinets. I saw a larger version of the witch in rocket in butter yellow sold for $3,000 on June 28th.