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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Tim Ramzyk Spectacular New Mummy Lantern!

Tim Ramzyk, the master sculptor/artist behind the aptly named Pulp Novelties, has created yet another unsettling and masterfully made lantern for the 2025 season. He calls it “The 13th Mummy.”
I opened the box just a few minutes ago and let out an involuntary “Wow!” when I peeled away the wrapping. (Tim packages quite well, too.) Tim’s mastery of his craft is genuine and self-evident. How does a mere mortal imbue a sculpture with such easy menace? It looks so desiccated that I checked for dust and desert sand in the shipping container! Tim shared some information on availability that I will pass along:

We will begin initially listing them in batches, the first on September 28th at 4pm (central time) in our Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/PulpNovelties) and replenishing them on Sunday October 5th, 12th, and 19th at 4 p.m. Central time. The price will be $264 which includes FREE priority mail shipping.
I will have a waiting list for those who would want to directly purchase one via PayPal after October 19th - once we're finished listing them on Etsy. To get on the list I'm asking that people send me a message through Etsy or email me at pulpnovelties@aol.com (NOT Faceboook messenger or in a Facebook post). We will do our best to fulfill all orders before Halloween but I can't guarantee we can meet the demand depending on the number of requests. Nevertheless, if you want one, we'll make sure you get one.
Thank you and Happy Halloween!

Understandably, Tim’s lanterns sell out very quickly. He makes them in limited quantities, they are of the highest sculptural artistry, the colors are inspired and the price is eminently reasonable. I don’t buy many newly produced items as space is limited, but I happily and routinely make an exception for Tim’s wares. You should, too! Happy Halloween!

Vintage Halloween Place Card Palms Read Man’s Hand

Whitney produced this item during the early 1920s. They were sold in a box of twelve - six male and six female hands. The box referred to the contents as “Twelve Place Cards Fortune Palms Suitable for Men and Women.” Even single palms rarely surface and have brought hundreds of dollars each.

VINTAGE ORIGINAL HALLOWEEN COLORLFUL CARDBOARD LITHOGRAPHED CANDY CONTAINER

I have seen several sizes of these candy boxes. The one shown on page 55 measures 2.75” high. The one on offer measures 4”. The one in the collection measures 3” and, different from all the others I’ve seen, has an orange, rather than a yellow, ribbon. This paper litho design typically brings strong dollars.

RARE Vintage Halloween Tin Litho Ghost Train Toy Technofix Germany 1948 WORKS!!

What an amazing set. Even amongst the destruction wrought by WWII, some German artisans were able to craft a fantastic toy. I’ve seen these trains several times before but don’t recall seeing the complete track, the tunnel and the original box art. If this is an appealing market segment to you, don’t let it escape your grasp. You almost certainly won’t see a better example.

Nearly 200 Listings By stnick22!

The eBay seller, stnick22, began nearly 200 listings yesterday that will run for 10 days, ending October 6th. There are a number of their lots that I will keep an eye on, so take a look at a few of what I consider their most intriguing listing.

Antique/Vintage Halloween Unused Crepe Paper Apron With CA Reed Co. Label

I missed this listing, so am grateful to fellow collector, Darin, for flagging it for me. I’ve long wondered about the many commercially-produced vintage aprons seemingly made using Dennison crepe paper. Dennison, in all their many publications, doesn’t mention or show aprons actually made by the company. There are suggestions as to how to use their crepe paper, sure, but nothing to indicate that Dennison itself made aprons. Then this listing comes along with an intriguing clue. On the reverse of this apron, there is a small tag indicating the item was produced by C.A. Reed of Williamsport, PA. Was the tag present at the time of the original sale? If so, assuming the crepe with the JOL and two cats was actually produced by Dennison (I think it was, but crepe has never been a market segment at the top of my playlist.), then does the tag indicate some formal arrangement between Reed and Dennison? I love this hobby. Even after having been in it for decades, there is so much still to know.

09/27 Update: Another collector has shared that she, too, has seen a Dennison crepe apron with a Reed tag. Thanks, AR!

Vintage Halloween cardboard/crepe paper fold out decorations -Beistle

The buyer received a true bargain here. This roly-poly was produced by Beistle in 1930-31. Beistle produced four designs of nearly the same size and four designs that were about two inches taller. (Turn to pages 226-227 to see some examples.) Of the smaller designs, the witch is arguably the best one - although I am more partial to the welcoming scarecrow. (The owl is forgettable.) These trade WELL above the BIN price of $20 the seller placed on his lot of two items. This was a true score. Congratulations to Matt and Sabrina.

Vintage Halloween Noise Maker

This is one noisemaker that you don’t see that often. The Japanese tin noisemaker output was typically minimally decorated. This follows that trend with a devil, a true crone witch and an odd crow. The seller is a newish member of our fun community who has a shrewd collecting instinct married with a sunny disposition. It is always fun hearing from her! I wish her great success with this listing.

NEAR MINT Antique Vintage Halloween 12-Panel Lantern Decoration Germany 1920s!!

Here is another result that beggars belief. This 12-panel lantern is very common. It surfaces regularly. The sustainable value is in the $300s, so the prevailing bidder paid a substantial premium. My theory is that there has been a large influx of new collectors into our fun hobby who have a weak grasp of value and rarity. Combine that with assumed deep pockets and the result is a spate of values that might not be seen again. I just hope in the meantime that collectors don’t forego the hobby for one that isn’t so pricey.
Now, there is another theory that I’ve spoken to several close collecting friends about. I’ve been a collector of vintage Halloween for nearly 40 years and have seen the valuation phenomenon that I call plateaus and spikes. Prices remain at largely one level for years until there is a spike affecting many market segments at once. The first spike I noticed was in 1992 for reasons that I can’t explain. 1995/6 was another spike, probably due to the publication of two references - one by Schneider and the other, quite a good one, by Campanelli, in 1995. Another spike happened in 2004 soon after my first edition was published and again in 2007 and 2014. The memorable spike in 2020 I place at the doorstep of COVID. Is this another sustainable spike we’re seeing in 2025 or a passing fad driven by hell-bent new collectors?

EXCEEDINGLY RARE Antique Vintage Halloween Diecut Set In Box NOS Germany

What a great listing! You rarely see the box many German diecuts were sold in, so this is a treat. The typical idea is what you see on the lid would be inside. Voila! Except for the JOL, the contents shown in the photos appear correct and complete. I have a box identically sized with identical lid imagery in the collection but the number at the bottom center of the lid is different. (It is also only three digits.) I’d love to know how these numbers were assigned. It will be fun to see what this listing brings!

09/02 Update: The seller definitely didn’t do themselves any favors by having this listing end during a long weekend holiday. It brought $1,680.51, significantly less than I expected. The prevailing bidder is a newish collector who has excellent taste. Congratulations, SH!

NEAR MINT PLUS NEVER USED Antique Vintage Halloween Stunt Game, Beistle, 1930s!

This seller has gotten so many results of late that are so far out of line with long-established values that she has become the subject of much conversation. This game is not uncommon. (I see that another eBay seller immediately listed this game in a similar condition for a BIN of $625 once this listing ended. It’ll be interesting to see if it sells.) I would be thrilled to sell any item I have as part of the collection for the price this seller has recently obtained! So, ASK. I have never seen anything like this. In a recent email exchange with the seller, she states that she starts everything at $9.99 and lets the market decide. Fair enough. I’ve heard a number of theories as to how she is getting these prices. My theory is simple: she has taken the time to build a brand and is reaping the reward - with a high percentage of her sales surely from deep-pocketed newer collectors who trust her and choose to overpay with a trusted source. I don’t subscribe to any of the nefarious theories being bandied about.

08/30 Update: The other game listed, referred to in my post, sold for $500, significantly less yet in the same condition.