Rust Craft produced some of the more innovative small paper designs. I’ve become an avid collector of their Halloween output. This tally is not often found in collectible condition. Can you guess why? If you said its slightly larger-than-average size and its very irregular borders - go to the head of the class!
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
VINTAGE BEISTLE’S ‘HALLOWEEN PARTY HELPS’ - UNUSED SET TALLY CARDS W/ENVELOPE!
It’s nice to see a quality listing amidst all of the out-of-season listings of items produced only in the last few years. (There has been some great small paper offered by netantiques!) Beistle made these tallies for many seasons. The original strings are always pink, so what would have been the original color? Orange? The tallies typically don’t fetch much as they are common, but to have a complete set with its original thin-paper envelope elevates this listing. The fact that the sellers are A-1 people with deep knowledge of our fun hobby absolutely should spur collectors to bid. Don’t let this great item escape your grasp!
Vintage Halloween Bridge Tally Place Card Green Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern Made USA
I think this rare tally would have brought somewhat more if the seller had identified it as a Dennison product. Produced during the very desirable period of ~1928-1932, this whimsical design reinforces its purpose - to tally the scores from a bridge game. I love it!
1920’s Vintage Halloween Tally Card Skeleton Smoking Pipe Top Hat Orange Gloves
That is the most rounded and snowy skeleton I’ve ever seen. It is actually a snowman with top hat, Bob Cratchit scarf and shovel. The tally has nothing to do with Halloween. it is a fine tally with great Christmas imagery.
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.
Nice Antique Vintage Halloween Bridge Tally Card, The Unique Line
This is an exceptionally hard-to-find tally produced by Unique. I’ve seen it only 2-3 times in 33 years. There is a companion tally that was sold with this one. (It can be seen in the Acquisitions section of the blog.)
10/12 Update: This sold for much less than I would have thought - $86.
VINTAGE 1930's Gibson HALLOWEEN Party Tally Card BLACK CAT inside JACK O-LANTERN
This tally bursts with energy - so typical of many Gibson small paper items. Contrast this smile-inducing gem with the static and drab artwork shown on the candy box in the post below. You can’t go wrong with this long-time and very knowledgeable seller - one of my favorites.
02/23 Update: This awesome seller received a top bid of $46 for this super tally.
Vintage Mechanical Halloween Bridge Tally Score Card Small Slam 50 pts Grand 100
Beistle issued a set of two Tutu Tallies in 1930-1931, sold as a set. For some reason, this one comes up for sale/auction far less frequently than the other. (You can see the other on page 223.) I haven’t seen this one for several years, so am not surprised by the ending price.
VINTAGE DENNISON HALLOWEEN FIGURAL ORANGE PUMPKIN BRIDGE TALLY CARDS BLACK CAT 2
I wonder why these wonderful Dennison tallies don’t bring more money? They’ve long seemed to bump around the $12-20 range per tally. The design is great and the maker’s Halloween output is coveted yet the value on the secondary market hasn’t budged even though the general small paper market segment has grown white hot. These market anomalies are puzzling.
Die-Cut Halloween Art Deco Bridge Tally Witch at Cauldron Goblins Black Cat Bats
This seller has been selling exceptional examples of small paper. Many of the items they are offering are new to me, so I look very much forward to checking out the listings of the seller, onestellarseller.
Die-Cut Buzza Co Bridge Tally Jester Clown Swinging Crescent Moon Jack-O-Lantern
I’ve never seen this cool design before. Given the crispness of the crescent moon’s tip, it’s doubtful one in better condition will ever surface. I like the blue background and the jester’s costume. What a wonderful tally by one of the regional masters, Buzza.
VINTAGE 1930's U. S. A. HALLOWEEN Party Tally Card OWL on smiling JACK O-LANTERN
I haven’t seen this tally many times. I think it was produced by Whitney during the 1920s. Have confidence in dealing with this wonderful seller.
Vintage Gibson Halloween Black Cat Tally Cards
The buyer of this lot of two Gibson tallies got a bargain. Both are visually appealing, colorful and large. The full-bodied cat looking back is the better of the two. It is rarely seen, especially in collectible condition. That tally alone should have brought $60. This is another example of the perils of using the Buy-It-Now feature when not specializing in what is being sold.
Halloween Mechanical Tally, Candle in Candlestick, Owls on Branch
This season has seen some crazy, unsustainable results. This is an example. Looking at the bidding history, only two bidders are responsible for this result, else this tally would have sold for below $100. I worry about these steep, silly prices being paid for things and the effect it has on the hobby’s ability to attract new collectors over time. I’ve said it often and it bears repeating - I don’t want this truly fun hobby to become the exclusive province of the well-heeled.
Halloween Vintage Tally, 2 Arched Black Cat Tallies, Heavy Silvery Highlighting
These cute tallies were produced by Hallmark. The seller is a long-time collector, both knowledgeable and honest! Don’t hesitate doing business with her.
