Have a Merry Christmas!

Faithful Reader, 
Thanks for visiting my blog and reading my scribblings throughout this year - and maybe even before that! Although I enjoy updating the site, curious as to what is selling at what price and how many more inroads reproductions and fantasy items are making into our fun hobby, I get tired of the endeavor right around now. I like to take a break from thinking about Halloween so as to spend time tending to my other interests and collections. 
Unless some notable items are listed, I'll take my normal break from updating the site until early January. In the meantime, take good care, enjoy the holidays - and don't forget that copies of my fully revised and expanded third edition of Vintage Halloween Collectibles make superb Christmas presents! :) 
MBL

#185 ANTIQUE HALLOWEEN 3 CARDBOARD DIE-CUTS MAID WITCH CLOWN GERMANY 1920s/1930s

This is merely one example of the great bargains to be had this time of the year for Halloween collectors. (Although a great time to buy, it is a horrific time to sell, since the recently passed holiday seems to have sated collectors' appetites, a phenomenon that occurs regularly from about early November through late March.) My advice, unless you have to sell, just wait until early April to begin selling anything noteworthy.

VINTAGE 1950's Gibson HALLOWEEN Stand-Up Greeting Card w/ Spooky Haunted House

This result puzzles me. I wouldn't have thought that a 1960s greeting card would have brought $10 much less $138.50. 

Demon Red she Devil

This is obviously an escapee from a junior high art class. Send her back to the depths of hell! 

RARE! Set of 10 Different Vintage Germany Halloween Skittles Skittle Game Pieces

This is not a complete set of skittles. The arched-back cats are duplicates and the walking witch skittle is missing.
These were game pieces made in Germany during the 1920s in great quantities. They are commonly seen today, yet routinely bring in the $50-75 range. 

Brach's halloween HAUNTED HOUSE 1950s monster playset store display candy box

I was able to purchase a mint example of this box about 6 months ago on Ebay for ~$90, so this seller is dreaming if he thinks anyone would fork over $249.99 for something that needs such top-to-bottom restoration. 

New Items Added to the "For Sale" Section

Check out the great items I listed just now...

Vintage Beistle Elves Fairies Halloween Party Hat, Honeycomb 1920’s

Whereas many things sold immediately after Halloween went for a pittance, a few items, like this one, brought strong results. The unifying theme of the stronger results is that the items tended to be manufactured by Beistle. Beistle made a set of these fairy-themed hats in 1923. When they surface in conditions similar to this one, they do bring top dollar. Sustainable guide value is $250. 

Antique JACK-O-LANTERN HALLOWEEN LAMP LIGHT HONEYCOMB CAT WITCH PUMPKIN !!!

This ending price, half of sustainable guide value, must surely be attributed to the doldrums of an immediate post-Halloween time frame. 

Vintage ca. 1960 Beistle Halloween Kit

The very high reserve price was met only because the prevailing bidder, a good friend of mine, wanted this badly as it rekindled a childhood memory of her mother purchasing an identical decorating kit. Except for this serendipitous circumstance for the seller, this surely wouldn't have met reserve, languishing well below half of the ending price.  

5 Paper Mache Halloween Lanterns German Jack-o-Lantern Clown Devils Skeleton

With the possible exception of the leftward-most JOL, these are all fantasy items, made beginning in the middle 1990s and exported from Germany. They have deceived many collectors. Don't be one of them! 

Rare Vintage Germany Die Cut Embossed Halloween Stand-Up Black Face Jack O

This is a great diecut in very clean condition, BUT it is being offered at too high of a price. The opening bid is $500 for an item with a sustainable guide value hundreds below that figure. I wish that more sellers would simply trust the auction system, offering items with low starting prices and with no reserves. 

Box of VINTAGE 1920's Dennison HALLOWEEN Acorn Face HALLOWE'EN Gummed Seals

Although this is a rare and desirable set of 1926 Dennison seals, the ending price was the result of a spirited bidding war amongst three people. The sustainable guide value is $150, so quite a premium was paid for the prevailing bidder to add to their collection. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN MUSICIANS COMPOSITION GERMANY 1925

I'm so glad to see that this listing finally sold - if for no other reason that this seller listed and relisted the set for at least three years. Surely one of the reasons it took the seller so long to dispose of this set is because she was asking a very high price for items in not very good condition. I can't say that the buyer got a very good deal, but collectively we all did, as this listing has finally been put to rest. 

Old Vintage Halloween Diecut Die Cut Out Cardboard Witch EATS Sign Dennison 1930

This rare Dennison diecut was available for only two seasons beginning in 1930. The sub-genre of arrowed party sign diecuts is a small but desirable one I enjoy collecting. This is a compelling item as it has plenty of color and a not-so-unfriendly looking witch, so typical of Dennison's softer look during this time. Sustainable guide value for one in mint condition is $185. 

Even given its less than perfect condition, the prevailing bidder got a steal scooping this up for a mere $89.