This awesome diecut has long been one of my favorites. Manufactured by Beistle in the 1940s, in near-perfect condition or better it should fetch around $185. This particular item was quite rough and yet it still reeled in nearly $84. Astounding!
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Halloween Candy Container Lantern Pear Head Papier Mache 8" tall
This is one of the finer German lantern/candy container combos I've seen listed on Ebay for many moons. The styling and detailed compo work epitomizes the height of German artistry. Given the slummy nature of Ebay of late, I feel this was the wrong venue on which to list this super item. As you can see, it fetched a mere fraction of what I feel it would have brought at an auction house like Morphy's. The lucky buyer got a steal.
Vintage 30s Halloween GIBSON Misprint 3-Sided Shade BLACK CAT, JOL, CANDLELIGHT
The seller is undoubtedly using my book as his reference. You can see the typically present third panel on page 44.
rarety GERMAN carboard colorful mini candy container CANDLE HOLDER HALLOWEEN
Now, this is one of the rarest items I've seen on Ebay for a long while. (As mentioned directly below, it has become quite the occasion to find worthwhile items on Ebay.) This is the candlestick candy container from the large set of similarly designed candy containers the Germans made between 1910 and 1920. (The one in my collection is shown on page 105 and is valued between $1,500-1,700. Several others from this set are shown on page 59.) Whomever the buyer was got a stellar deal as the seller hadn't a clue as to the value of the piece based on the BIN price of $75. Congratulations!!
* SALE * Vintage HALLOWEEN FORTUNES Game Witch OWL Moon USA - REG PRICE 148.99
What a crock! This seller is advertising that the game is "on sale" for $89.99 marked down from its original price of $148.99. Given that both prices are characteristic of the "let's shoot for the moon and see if we can snag any dumb buyers" mentality that seems to predominate on Ebay these days, it is not surprising that this game - in fair condition only - still lingers. In fact, far too many items are listed, relisted and then relisted again with sellers never dropping their prices in light of the sustained market indifference to their offerings. (One seller, mrgoodlite, comes to mind. ) I wish that Ebay would alter its policy to require that items being relisted more than once have a price drop of at least 20% to their prior opening price, with the price drops continuing with each relisting. Unfortunately, Ebay has become more of a junk shop or a low-end garage sale in the vintage Halloween category, although there are great items listed from time-to-time. I have been encouraging my friends who sell better items in this category to migrate to other forums like icollect247 or Ruby Lane.
VINTAGE 1920's HALLOWEEN FIBRO TOY BLACK CAT JOL Lantern Wagon CART VERY RARE
Considering that this item in perfect condition typically fetches ~$200, I would very much like to know what the buyer paid, considering that the seller had a BIN price over ten times the typical going rate. I have a feeling that the buyer vastly overpaid.
Exceptional 1920's Dennison Die-Cut Black Cat and Candle-Owl in Flame Place Card
Although the seller has a high price on this very desirable Dennison place card, for someone coveting this hard-to-find item this may be the one to get given its condition. I haven't seen one of these offered in this near-mint+ condition in some time. (I actually looked mine over to ensure it was also in the same condition, else I'd have considered scooping this up.) The detail in this place card has always amazed me: from the face in the flame, to the face formed by the dripping wax to the horrified cat - this epitomizes why I love Dennison products from this time period.
Vtg Halloween Paper Mache Jack-O-Lantern Cat. One of a kind!!
What has this seller been smoking? This is arguably one of the most common USA pulp lantern forms ever made, yet this seller describes it as "one of a kind" and has slapped a BIN price of $750 on it. Ah, the innocence of ignorance.
RARE Vintage Halloween Dual-Sided JOL Lantern, Made in Germany for Beistle, 1928
This lantern is among my favorites, perhaps primarily due to the evolution one can clearly see between this, made about 1928 for a single season, and what is arguably Beistle's lantern masterpiece, issued three years later. (This earlier version appears on page 35, not 135 as cited in the listing by my good friend. The later masterpiece is shown on page 34.) Although there are well-disclosed condition issues with this piece, Ziz does what I wish more sellers would do: slap an opening price of $9.99 on a great item and trust the auction process.
06/24 Update: Factoring in its condition, I feel this lantern fetched as much as it could, $192.50
Vintage HALLOWEEN Toy Black Cat Noisemaker Clacker Composition Pa Dutch German
These primitive ratchets are abundant, especially this kind where there is a minimum of composition and an otherwise undistinguished wood ratchet. Given the plainness of this ratchet and the damage to the ear, the seller is surely dreaming asking $650 as a BIN price. In my opinion, the value is merely the opening bid of $75.
OLD HALLOWEEN PULP DEVIL JACK-O-LANTERN LIGHT-RARE
Whoever bought this made a smart purchase for $250. The seller almost certainly didn't understand the market else he/she would have priced it at the level these normally change hands - $400-500. Congratulations to the buyer!
OLD CAST IRON HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN HEAD BOBBLE BOBBIN HEAD NODDER HOME DECO
This is a fake having zero collectible value. Don't be fooled!
Vtg Halloween Skeleton Noise Maker Rattle Tin Metal Antique Toy
Although this is a highly sought-after noisemaker, the seller has not taken into account its poor condition when wishing to sell it for a laughable Buy-It-Now price of $300. Condition matters, folks! In mint condition $300 would be a slight stretch. In this condition, I assess the value at around $95.
