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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Vintage Halloween Ghost Decoration

This scary Beistle winged ghost was issued in 1925 in two variants: white or orange honeycombed paper wings. Both are valued equally. This example has the typical damage: both knots are missing as is a section of the base. I understand the typically missing knots, but have long wondered why the bases are typically truncated. 

Vintage Halloween Beistle Placecard

Beistle issued these mechanical place cards in at least two packaging variations around 1930. The one shown on page 220 held four: two owls, one ghost and one witch. Beistle assigned this variant stock number 757. The second held 6 place cards, three owls, two ghosts and one witch. This small package has a cello front and was assigned stock number 657. I guess Beistle made a surfeit of owls! 

RARE BEISTLE HALLOWEEN FOLDOUT DIECUT

This is one of a trio that comprises a full set. The seller is correct in stating that this 3-D table decoration was made by Beistle. The complete set, made in the mid-1950s, is shown on page 231. This is the one that typically brings the most money when sold. 

04/20 Update: Surprisingly, this fetched only $89.88. 

1920's Halloween tin shaker with cow, spooky tree, cat & JOL

Matthew Kirscht, who did a bang-up job laying out my newly published third edition, feels the same unknown manufacturer responsible for this great shaker also made the four-sided bell-shaped noisemaker that brings relatively significant dollars even though it surfaces regularly. He subtly placed these two items next to each other on page 207. Check them out!

HALLOWEEN ORNAMENT, GHOST SCARING DO WITH JACK'O'LANTERN

This exceedingly rare diecut was issued by Beistle in the 1940s and was packaged in varying assortments for a solid decade. Yet, it rarely surfaces - an oddity I've noted with other Beistle diecuts like the elusive "skeleton in the graveyard" that I discuss on page 137. I am not surprised that it fetched such strong dollars even in its less than mint condition. I like the energy the scene conveys! 

1920 - TWO VINTAGE BEISTLE HALLOWEEN INVITATIONS - ERIE KANSAS

These Beistle invitations were made only between 1918-1921. As I write on page 218 of my newly available 3rd edition, "You can tell these are early as they are mighty primitive. The printed interiors are crooked and rather sloppy. They seem to have been rushed to market. I believe that it is this poor quality that prevents these from fetching the significant dollars such early Beistle designs typically bring." There were two iterations of the same design, one with a movable part and one without. Four different designs comprise a complete set. 

Large Dennison Floating Specter Halloween Die-Cut

Wow, another record-setting price from azpaperlady. I wonder who is bidding such large sums of money on damaged items? I wouldn't have thought that this item, with the serious tape blemish to its face, would bring such a strong price. Lately, I have seen an 8" version of this cool diecut being offered for sale. I think these smaller diecuts are fantasy items. There is no indication in any Dennison publication that this was made in two sizes. Be cautious!