Prices for boxes of Gibson seals have increased dramatically over the last 24 months with this result being the latest data point. The box of 1920s broomed witch seals originally contained 12 seals. With only 4 remaining, the lot still brought $88.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Vintage Halloween Dennison Die Cut Flying Witch Place Card
This well designed place card has all the hallmarks of a top Dennison design. These include frenetic energy, disparate elements working harmoniously and a sense of humor. Although you don’t see this design often, they typically trade for FAR LESS than this seller is asking - an astounding $185! (One sold on 09/22 for $22.50.) The design first appeared in their 1923 Bogie Book with a stock number of H16. For some reason, the stock number changed to H21 in 1924. These were sold in shops singly. They were not packaged.
VINTAGE EMBOSSED WITCH ON BROOM TIARA HALLOWEEN DIE CUT DECORATION
Wow, eBay is sure a strange marketplace. So many collectors have expressed astonishment over this result, it must be an aberration. I am lucky enough to own all twelve of these diadems or tiaras. Trust me, I'm willing to sell any one in the collection for this price. Transfer the sum via Paypal and let me know which one you want.
Antique Beistle Steeple Witch with Cat and Bat and Moon - 1930's, Scalloped edge
This very large diecut was produced by Beistle beginning in 1932. It is exceptionally hard to find in near-perfect condition primarily because of its size and irregular border. Based on close scrutiny of the many photos provided, I feel this is one of the very best ones of this design I've seen in many years, if not ever. The colors look undimmed and the borders appear perfect aside from that bit of tape at the hanging hole. Wow!
05/03 Update: This sold for $634.99, roughly double SGV.
VINTAGE OLD HALLOWEEN DECORATION DIECUT UGLY WITCH ON BROOM MOON LRG.TWO SIDED
Beistle first issued this design in the early/mid 1960s. They reissued it in the very late 1960s printed on both sides. These reissues have about 50% of the value of the first issue, or about $25 if in near-mint or better condition.
1920's - 1930's German Die Cut Halloween Witch on Broom
I'm glad to see someone get a solid eBay bargain! This is a rare and desirable German diecut - especially in this pristine condition. If this was sold in an auction format rather than a BIN, the seller would surely have realized four times the amount they did.
VINTAGE 1960 Beistle HALLOWEEN WITCH Flying on Broom Die-Cut Party Decoration
This is one of the diecuts Beistle made few of near the end of their long creative run. It is hard enough to find that I don't have one in the collection. I am not surprised by the price.
1920's Halloween Tamborine Noise Maker
This unmarked printed paper tambourine with a decorated tin rim was made during the 1930s. As I write on page 213, "Several collectors have said they have found this tambourine sold as part of a "Gypsy Woman" costume boxed set issued by Collegeville in the 1930s."
BEISTLE HALLOWEEN VINTAGE DECORATION WITCH 1930'S EMBOSSED
This is a great image and part of a set of five scalloped-edged, sizable diecuts Beistle began producing in 1932. Given their large size, these typically surface in poor condition. This one seems pretty nice. (Tape residue on the reverse doesn't bother me at all.) The rarest one from the set of 5 is the skeleton walking through the graveyard. It has been several years since one has surfaced. It sold for ~$3400.
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN DIE CUT 10 BLACK CARDBOARD WITCH 'S SHAPES ON A BROOM IN PKG
Be very careful in purchasing items purported to be vintage Halloween items from this seller. They have long been on my list of sellers with whom I don't do business. The sheen from the envelope is suspicious. I find it interesting there is no photo of the reverse shown and that they have not used eBay's zoom feature for this and other of their listings. If you are inclined to buy, ask lots of questions and ask for additional photos.
ca 1920s Halloween Invitation Card Shocked Witch Flying in Moon unused
This is an excellent bargain from a wonderful seller. This is a rare invitation with excellent graphics that should find a good home in any collection. There is no marking to indicate which firm produced it. I feel it was made by a regional firm with somewhat limited distribution. It is priced at an eminently reasonable $46 as a BIN. (If I didn't have one already, it would be already gone!) Someone needs to scoop this up pronto!
07/18 Update: I'm glad to note that someone followed my advice and bought this fine invitation a scant 19 minutes after my post.
Vintage Paper Halloween Hat by Beistle's. A black cat on one side, a witch on
This early variant of a thin-tissue coned hat produced by Beistle sold for $45, a solid price considering its wrinkled and bedraggled appearance. I would have taken even more dollars off given that the seller included a photo showing it being worn and another showing enough dirt under the fingernails suggesting that the seller, drac, clawed his way out of an earthen resting place after daylight hours ended.
Vintage Halloween Paper Hat ~Witch Riding Moon W/ Broom ~ Black Cat ~15" Tall
I'm surprised that this visually striking, large and very rare hat didn't bring more. I wouldn't need all the fingers on one hand to count how many times I've seen hats from this small set surface. Yes, there are some condition issues, but fairly minor. (The main fold is unavoidable as these hats were shipped that way from Shippensburg.) My feeling is that the buyer got a solid bargain.
Vintage Dennison Halloween Witch Illuminated Silhouettes
This was one of Dennison's go-to designs, issued in a numbing number of iterations. In 1922, they issued a slide box of twelve of these broomed witch illuminated silhouettes using stock number H-641. In 1926 Dennison issued a closely related variant of gummed silhouettes in a slide box containing six. I suspect this listed set of six was made sometime during 1923 to 1925 based on the reduced number of units per package, the lack of a printed stock number and the monochromatic box. Even with the large form-factor, which typically commands a premium, this design typically doesn't fetch more than about $75.
04/02 Update: These sold for $76.26.
Antique German FLYING WITCH Decoration w/ Original Crepe Paper Broom
Don't bid too much on this piece. The broom was never an original component of this diecut and is therefore, from a collecting perspective, meaningless. What should be noted is that the diecut is not complete. Most of the lower section of the broom is gone. To see the extent of the missing section, check out the compete diecut shown on page 178.
