I was buckled in tight for the ride but didn't see that last sharp turn on the roller coaster. I knew this spectacularly rare German diecut would go for gobs o' cash but not that many gobs! Listen, I've been around the vintage Halloween market for nearly three decades and have seen hundreds of private collections, hundreds of brick-and-mortar auctions listings and tens of thousands of on-line listings and I have NEVER seen this particular diecut or anything remotely similar. The seller bought out a huge collection from the estate of a quite elderly and very long-time holiday collector from somewhere in the upper Midwest and has been smartly selling things off for years. This is surely one of the diecuts made around 1935 and sold only to eastern Canada. Given the extreme rarity, perhaps this represents one of the final diecuts from that batch of designs that is characterized by an aggressively out-there design aesthetic. I love items from that final year and they are hard to come by. This is in a league all its own. I decided this morning not to bid as I felt it would go to ~$3500. There are many other great paper items I can and will pick up for that sum. Imagine my shock when my phone began to light up with text after text from collector friends who wondered my opinion on the price threshold. My opinion is simple: for items that are truly unique, the sky is the limit. I wasn't willing to go to the outer edges of the atmosphere for this item, but I congratulate whomever did! It will absolutely be the star of the show, the belle of the ball and all that!
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Antique Original 1915 Dennison's Bogie Book Halloween Decorations w/ Envelope
When it rains it pours! Funny how things work. When I bought the one in the collection 3-4 years ago I had never seen one before in any reference or in any collection. One was listed a few weeks ago and now this third one has surfaced. The set that ended recently sold for a reasonable $838 but the enclosure was in arguably lesser condition.
09/18 Update: This sold for $809.99. The sustainable value tracks closely with guide value of $775 for both items - the Bogie Book itself and the exceedingly rare enclosure.
Vintage Halloween Paper Mache Pulp Cat-On-A-Fence JOL, ca. 1940s, All-Original
I just had a conversation with two close friends who visited today regarding the many crazy, unsustainable prices being seen lately for otherwise ordinary vintage Halloween items. The tulip mania or bubble of the 1600s was mentioned. Are we in a bubble phase wherein unremarkable and imperfect items are bid to - let me say it - ridiculous levels that I feel are unhealthy for the overall hobby? This pulp lantern is so common that nary a week goes by that you can't have your choice of several. The typical trading range is around the $150 level. Why would this go for $385? Now, I am happy for the seller who assuredly cannot believe her good fortune, but the buyer will almost certainly never again see this price when, and if, they ever decide to sell.
Rare Halloween Fortune Teller Game Witch Black Cat Owl Brownie Made in Germany
There was a time when what this seller is offering this great game for would be a steal. Those days are gone for a few more years, at least. As I write on page 125, "About 20 of these were discovered in an old drugstore in Kentucky and were sold at auction in Ohio several years ago. These have been filtering into the marketplace since, greatly reducing the value of this item for the short and medium terms." I feel that $1,100 to $1,200 is the current market value of a mint example of this game - long one of my favorite items.
Vintage Halloween Witch Fortune Telling Card
These fortune place cards rarely come up for sale, especially when unused and complete. Made by Whitney in the 1920s, it would be fair to say that the market currently values these in the $65-70 price range, given that the seller offered five individually and ending within a short time of each other. This somewhat precise valuation for items that rarely appear seldom happens.
RARE Vintage Halloween "Dennison's Bogie Book w/ Scary Cat & Pumpkin
This is a tough Bogie Book to acquire. This was published for the 1919 season. For some reason, similar to the 1916 edition, it almost never surfaces in near-mint or better condition. Even after all of these years the one in the collection, shown on page 101, could stand to be upgraded. The seller, new to eBay, made an error offering this for such a low price relative to guide value of $375.
VINTAGE DENNISON HALLOWEEN PARTY INVITATION, UNUSED
This is arguably among the very best invitations Dennison produced. I appreciate the many elements comprising what is a tranquil scene. I also like the bold blue used for the cauldron smoke. This invitation first appeared in the 1924 Bogie Book, stock number H87. If you collect unused Halloween ephemera, this is a great one to make part of your collection!
09/11 Update: This sold for an astounding $211.94!
Great Vintage Halloween Set of Four Dancing Black Cats
The seller is probably wondering if they put too low of a BIN price on this lot as it lasted less than 42 minutes. This interlocking centerpiece of four dancing cats was produced by Gibson during the late 1920s. It is unusual to find the envelope, no matter the condition, and to find that all of the cat's interlocking tabs are still present. Guide value is $175.
Vintage Halloween Cut Out Placecard. Black Cat, Owl & JOL. 1920's. Dennison?
The seller is correct that this is a wonderfully designed "best wishes" card. It wasn't made by Dennison but by Hallmark. This Kansas City firm issued a set of (I think) four different designs in the later 1920s, all with the back background and all meant to be folded like a tent card.
One Vintage Halloween ROSEN 50s Trix or Treats SKELETON MOON DANCE sucker card
As is so often the case when an auction ends at a puzzlingly high price, the unsustainable ending price of $142.50 for this smile-inducing Rosen Trix or Treats cards was brought on by two determined bidders. Remove the underbidder from the equation and this would have ended right around where it should have ended, $76.
Readers, for items like these cards that surface regularly, never pay more than right around guide value, which is $70. Although I do think this is the single best Halloween card Rosen issued, why pay such a premium? Sit back and be patient - for one will surface again soon enough.
Vtg Box of 12 Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Gummed Seals/Stickers USA Gibson Art 1920
I was glad to see this box of early 1920s JOL seals sell for what it did. Even without a photo showing the reverse of the box to see the factory marking indicating how many seals were originally sold as a set, and the general scruffiness of the box and seals, this early Gibson boxed product brought a respectable $30. Although I like Dennison boxed sets more, all else being equal, it is much harder to find Gibson boxed sets, especially complete ones. The market has been slow to recognize the value of Gibson boxed products although this has been changing over the last 2-3 seasons.
Vintage Halloween Invitation w/ Scary Witch, Black Bird & Cat
This seller, a frequent lister in this category, made an error in offering this rare and desirable tri-fold invitation for a paltry BIN of $28. This first appeared in Dennison's 1922 Bogie Book with a stock number of H82. The artwork and lettering are compelling. The fact that it was unused is a nice bonus. These typically change hands for $85 or more. I sure hope she lists another one for $28!
09/19 Update: An identical one from another seller sold on 09/18 for $192.39!
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CELLULOID WITCH PULLING PUMPKIN
Halloween celluloid in good condition, like this item, has been on a tear these last few months. This piece was made in Japan during the 1920s and rarely surfaces. The seller is a long-time collector who is knowledgeable and honest. Know that you can conduct business with her with absolute confidence. If you wish to see one of the best visual displays of Halloween celluloid, turn to pages 110-115 and feast your eyes.
09/09 Update: This great item sold for $542.89!
ANTIQUE/VINTAGE HALLOWEEN Tags in ORIGINAL Drawer BOX
Gibson produced this stunning seal design in the early 1920s. Much of Gibson's output in this boxed genre is fun but one-dimensional compared to the more thought-through designs Dennison typically released. (That said, I love the Gibson boxed products. They are much harder to find - and that makes the hunt all the more fun. Overall, I think they are currently under-valued in the market.) This design is an obvious exception. A sister design is shown at the upper left on page 264. Both are killer! Guide value for a full box of 20 seals is $250. This box had 8-10 damaged seals and an unfortunate blemish on the packaging. Therefore, the result seems right.
New Lantern Design from Tim Ramzyk of Pulp Novelties
Wow! I just received Tim Ramzyk's 2016 Halloween pulp lantern and LOVE it! As you know, it is rare that I tout anything but vintage items on this blog, but take a look at this scary lantern alongside two others I am so proud to own - a devil head and a witch head. Tim is a Wisconsin-based artist who meticulously and painstakingly hand molds his own designs from a heavy, durable pulp. Including 2016's Nosferatu (The Vampire), he has 6 designs in limited quantities at price points that are in a few words, way too cheap! The other designs are a witch, a devil, a skull, a JOL and a black cat. Just as I have always been, I am in awe at the workmanship and the true craft he brings to pulp design. I proudly have three of his treasures on exhibit in my main display room. (For those who I've been lucky to host at my home, you know that in order for something to be placed in that room, it has to carry its own weight. These do, easily.)
Tim is only making 14 Nosferatu (The Vampire) lanterns at first with a handful more to be made through the Halloween season if need be. The other designs are similarly limited. The price for Nosferatu is $95. (It measures ~7.5" high by ~6.5" deep.) The price for either the devil, JOL or black cat is $68. The price for either the skull or witch is $80. Having seen the meticulousness of these wondrous and limited edition objects, I can surely say these prices are way too cheap. (Hurry, order these quickly before Tim comes to his senses and raises them!)
By the way, Tim has created a steel stamp of his logo and has permanently branded his creations, as he has a healthy respect for protecting the vintage market. He numbers and dates each of his creations.
For those who know me, you know that I rarely buy anything Halloween unless it is vintage. I've made an exception - and you should too. Snap these up before they are ALL GONE by contacting Tim directly at pulpnovelties@aol.com. He lists these as well on eBay and Etsy.
09/04 Update: As I knew would happen, every last one of the first run of Tim's 2016 Nosferatu (The Vampire) lanterns has sold. Be sure to look at his lantern designs, now available, from the past few years. They are all worth owning.
