Blog

Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Vintage Halloween 1930’s Beistle Hallowe’en Tango Cat & Orig. Glassine Envelope

Wow! How many times have you seen a near-mint Beistle Tango Cat with its original glassine envelope? Answer: Maybe never! This is one of the best listings gracing eBay in 2025. Beistle produced two Tango designs - this cat and a scary witch - for only a season or two beginning in 1930. I suspect they were not brisk sellers. Here is what I write on page 225: “The construction of this Tango figure did not lend itself well to survival over the decades. Opening and closing the honeycomb stresses the main body and degrades the honeycomb. The points along the border typically are creased and bumped. Because he cannot stand and must be hung, there are invariably creases or repairs at the feet. The severity of these nearly always present condition issues has a direct correlation to value.” This listing deserves the attention of all collectors who understandably treasure the Beistle aesthetic. I hope it does well.

2 Antique Vintage Halloween Diecut Art Deco Bridge Tally Card Decorations 1920s!

I love the stylistic juxtaposition between these two tallies, both made by regional manufacturers whose small paper wares are avidly collected. The tally by Henderson Line has a fresh anime feel to it with a touch of sweetness. The tally by Clark is appealing for its fantastic bat, its sense of motion and the sly JOL. I have not seen either design before, so I hope they bring strong dollars.

DRGM Devil with Pitchfork Halloween Crank Noisemaker Germany 1930-40's

This rare German crank noisemaker is one I’ve not seen before. It was almost certainly produced sometime from 1930-1935 for export. The DRGM mark was used through 1949 but the Germans pivoted from using metal for these export items around 1935 to accommodate their expansionist policies that resulted in WWII. The ending price is fully justified. Very nice item, indeed!