EXCEEDINGLY RARE Vintage Halloween Owl Pick-A-Feather Fortune Game 1930s, Framed

This Gibson fortune game is mammoth relative to virtually all other games. (Gibson had a penchant for size. Their Whoo’s Whoo? and Remember I’ve 9 Lives drawing games, which you can see on page 22, are huge, too.) I appreciate the fun-factor of this game as well as Gibson’s cleverness in finding ways to re-use previously made artwork. (I feel the Wise Up! diecut shown on page 168 was an adaptation of the fortune game.) As I wrote in very early 2016, I’ve seen this game precious few times. I was lucky to acquire a complete example in near-perfect condition in February 2016. Any others I have seen were in problematic condition. The condition of this example is the best I’ve seen save for the one now in the collection. Although this one is far from perfect as detailed by the great seller, it may be the best that someone could acquire for years. A significant drawback is the fact that this is framed. I recommended that the framing be dispensed with but the consignor resisted that suggestion. If I were a prospective buyer, I would want to examine the reverse and be assured that it could be removed from the framing without further damage. The seller sagely helped lessen the framing issue by offering free shipping, a not inconsiderable concession. It will be fun and interesting to see what this fetches!

04/07 Update: I was surprised this sold for a relative song - $469. The buyer, a long-time, discerning collector, got a rare bargain in these times of typically over-heated results. I feel the fact it was framed really crimped the bidding.

RARE Vintage Halloween Tin Noisemaker Cat Witch Bats 1920's

Bugle Toy of Providence, Rhode Island produced some of the quirkiest and most memorable tin litho noisemaker designs, far eclipsing their contemporaries in pushing that mythical envelope. If I could only have one of their designs, I’d surely choose this one. This was produced during the 1930s.

04/07 Update: This great item sold for $185.

Antique Vintage Halloween Paper Candle Stick Candy Container Japan 1920s? Rare?

This candlestick candy container is a derivative of the one produced by the Germans from ~1916-1921. Although the dimensions seem to be nearly identical, the grace notes between the two are obvious. The German version has a more richly decorated and colored base. The German version’s handle is larger and more appropriately sized than the item produced in Japan. The surely after-market addition of the forgettable cat is unfortunate. If this was produced in Germany I would expect it to fetch no less than $2500. The item up for auction should fetch one-third of that figure in a normal market, which the one we are experiencing right now is most definitely not.

04/07 Update: This sold for a mere $312, far less than I would have thought.

1910-1914 ANTIQUE Vintage Halloween TREAT SATCHEL Devils Bonfire Bat GERMANY

OK, this result blew my mind. (Another from this set of at least six, with broomed witches, sold a day earlier for a hair over $1,700.) These are very cool and rare items, but c’mon. If any one buyer wishes to own four of the six satchels, shown on page 137 from my personal collection, they can be yours for $7,000.

A long-time collector kindly shared a previously unknown design from his private collection, folded to be used as a hat rather than a satchel - expanding the known designs from four to five. You’ll find this below.

Another collector kindly shared a previously unknown design from her private collection, folded to be used as a hat rather than a satchel - expanding the known designs from five to six. You’ll find this below.

*RARE* 1950s Vintage Halloween BEISTLE Witch Glancing Backwards Pale Green Moon

There have been a number of results that have caused me to raise my eyebrows in disbelief, this being one of them. The three Beistle diecuts that comprise a full set are arguably the result of a last creative gasp from an organization that had been running on fumes for too long by the time these were released during the late 1950s. The trio is stunning! The condition of this example is so problematic that I question why it would have brought nearly $430.

Vintage Halloween Black Cat Letter Napkin Holder Decoration

This is simply a non-descript metal holder that someone slapped a forgettable Halloween seal on at some point. It’s true connection to Halloween is tenuous. Sadly, the seller keeps listing and relisting it.

Scarce 1920s Halloween Black face Jack O Lantern JOL Made in Germany embossed

It is nice to see a rare item of quality on eBay. Sadly, that forum has largely been a shit-show since they inexplicably compressed the holiday categories about one year ago. This smaller version of this JOL design is one that just doesn’t surface much. Made in Germany during the early 1930s, it will win hands-down in a staring contest. (I now feel this design and related ones were made during the early 1930s. The book’s errata has been updated to reflect this new view.)

Vintage Luhrs (Beistle) Halloween Paper/Honeycomb Party Hat Witch/Moon 1940s

Beistle produced this design, as well as the additional three designs comprising a complete set, from 1946-1954. The prices for these designs have been largely moribund for years, but lately this has changed. I sold two designs in my recent auction that fetched well above the average selling prices established over the last few years. You can see all four designs on page 243.

VERY RARE 1930s Vintage Halloween BEISTLE Sunflower TALLY CARD Honeycomb Tutu

This Beistle tutu tally was produced during the 1930-1931 interval. There were two designs sold as a set. The odd thing is that when one of the two is offered for sale, which doesn’t happen often, it is invariably this sunflower design, not the other design. (You can see the other design on page 223.) Weird, huh? This example being offered for auction is pretty darn nice. The seller is too!

03/24 Update: This sold for $311.

RARE 1920s Vintage Halloween DENNISON? GIBSON? Diecut "Faux Stained Glass"

I think the set of four, of which this is one, is unusual, calming and extremely hard to find in collectible condition. Even with the flaws the seller so carefully called out, this fetched a pretty penny! I feel the flaws were overshadowed by the still-bright colors. I had read another listing for an item from this set that claimed the set was produced by Dennison. Although that is surely possible, I can find no evidence that this set was produced by Dennison. Stylistically, it doesn’t seem to fit, either.