This rare pulp witch candy holder is a challenge to find in collectible condition for reasons that escape me. I added one to the collection during the last year when I saw one in great, although imperfect condition. (I had resisted acquiring one as condition was always problematic.) The seller neglects to mention height. This is impressively sized at ~8.25” high and makes a great display item.
09/08 Update: Glad to see this fine pulp figural brought $321.
Although the seller should ditch the dizzying background, she is offering a few nice things, including this Dennison table decoration, which first appeared in their 1927 Party Magazine. Dennison produced so many intricate designs during their heyday that selecting their best is hard. Arguably, this is near the top of their output in terms of creativity and sheer brilliance. It has long been one of my favorite items. Many people agree since the bidding is already up to $150.50 with four days remaining.
This is a hard-to-find Dennison box of seals. These were first sold in 1924 with a stock number of H682. It is unusual to find all the seals extant in good shape. Many times they are rolled or have clumped together. A fair price for this is in the $125-140 range.
Wow, someone really wanted this German mini-diecut! Three bidders drove up the ending price to an unsustainable level. This is part of a set of six first produced during the early 1930s, then produced again from about 1945-1949. The others can be seen on page 185.
This great set rarely surfaces in what the seller describes as mint condition. Typically, one or more of the connecting tabs are long gone. This dancing cat centerpiece was produced by Gibson during the later 1920s. The seller received a healthy price for this, but I wonder if the ending price might have even been higher had she started the auction with a significantly lower threshold.
What a pleasant surprise to see this exceedingly rare German diecut listed on eBay. It is one of the designs sold to Canada in 1935, so it makes sense the seller is in Canada. There are four diecuts to this desirable set. The others show a skeleton playing a violin, an accordion and a drum. I know of only a handful of collectors who own one or more of this set. The pale blue background, present on all four designs, is very unusual and sets these heavily embossed diecuts apart from others. This listing has only been active for less than one hour and there are already multiple bids. I expect this to fetch serious dollars. It’ll be instructive to see the result.
09/08 Update: This sold for $2,025, about what I felt it should bring. Congrats to the prevailing bidder.
Although this boxed set of gummed silhouettes isn’t much to look at, if you are a Dennison completist it is surprisingly hard to find. This design, also made in black, first appeared in their 1921 Bogie Book.
09/03 Update: This sold for $49.00.
This is a rare chance for someone to acquire not only the harder-to-find version of this Beistle “I’m A Dumbskull Stunt Game” but the envelope as well. I’ve seen about 10 such envelopes in 32 years and this is one of the best. Yes, there is toning to the front and a small tear, but considering it was used to house a game made in 1930-1931, the condition is super. There were two versions of the game made - the differences are detailed on page 17. The seller is a long-time, knowledgeable collector with whom you should feel very comfortable doing business.
09/03 Update: This brought $212.49.
This result is surprising. This Spook’s Trip game, produced by Beistle during the 1950s, is shabby and incomplete, as it is missing the six markers from the lower right corner. These surface from time to time, generally in better condition. A complete example can be found on page 20. I would have expected this to fetch $30.
The condition of this is typical of these large diecuts. The Germans produced four different designs of these “windowpane” diecuts during the early 1930s. None surface often. This is surely the oddest imagery of all - a lascivious JOL! The others to this set can be seen on page 170.
This wonderful seller is doing it again - offering a rarely seen item in fantastic condition! This is a large lantern made in Germany during the 1920s. As I write on page 118, “This is an imposing lantern due to its sheer size and detailing, measuring 16” h x 8.25” w.” I think the seller is smart not to attempt to construct the lantern simply for the sake of photos. These things are nearly 100 years old! I treasure the one in the collection, and know you’ll treasure this, too!
08/28 Update: This sold for a strong $1728.99.
This German tiara is so minty! Given how they were meant to be used, referenced in the listing itself, this is in surprisingly excellent condition. The Germans made twelve designs comprising a full set during the 1920s. They were marketed as diadems, although tiara has become the way in which these kinds of items are referenced. All designs are rare. Some designs have more oomph to them. In my view this one, the pirate JOL, the cat in a feathered hat and the owl trio are the best.
08/28 Update: This sold for $1125.79.
Beistle produced at least three table decoration designs that incorporated their signature honeycomb onto a diecut backdrop. They produced these only during the 1957-58 seasons. They were apparently not strong sellers. I don’t feel many were produced, and certainly few have survived the 60+ years since they were made. None of the three designs surface often, so this is a rare opportunity to acquire one. I’ve seen this table decoration maybe three times in 31 years of collecting. One has thus far escaped my grasp. It shows a bashful scarecrow near a honeycomb pumpkin. That can be seen on page 7 of Lasansky’s reference. The other to the set can be seen on page 228 of my third and final edition.
08/25 Update: This ended up bringing $182.49. Even though the condition of the honeycomb is problematic, I feel the buyer did well.
These charming nut cups were made by the Dolly Toy Company of Tipp City, Ohio. There is at least a fourth member of this set - a devil head - that almost never comes up for sale. I have yet to acquire one. These look to be in exceptional condition. The name written on the bottom of one is a mere condition blemish. These are worth acquiring.
This box is that rare Whitney non-postcard item actually marked. Even though this box is empty, it makes a great display piece. As I write on page 273, “The contents are fairly plain, consisting of twelve place cards, twelve wood spindles and two sheets with six fortunes per sheet.” The box is in nice shape with a single break along one long edge and no distressed corners. This is worth acquiring.
