Yesterday's Prices at Today's Auctions
Sane Halloween Observer
As stated in entry one - this blog will not be overly concerned about vintage collectible pricing, however, some recent auction results may be of interest, and just may balance a few perspectives...
It's a real trick or treat (depending on what side of the transaction you stand) to resell vintage holiday. Seasonal peak interest is only one challenge. Availability (of both poor and quality items) is also changing with the internet lessening rarity (also challenging the belief that past generations simply discarded objects the way we do now). Mis-perception of the market creates bids without adequate personal research; while pensive sellers stall sales under a nebulous concept of reaching "true" or higher market-value. As well, more vintage-style arts and printable knock-offs now vie for attention that dilute our yearning for true vintage and/or offer items perhaps more fitting to modern expectations of artistry and/or materials.
Some recent examples show that a few auction houses had results that would likely make past winners question the value of previously won acquisitions. A couple of auction houses (including one of high profile) recently sold off large lots of Halloween postcards that averaged only a little over $10 per card. While another auction house (offering a mix of old and mis-labeled newer items) had prices for true vintage reach results more akin to some previous decade --- see examples below:
While above results aren't too shocking if you've been pursuing a "let the market determine value" attitude, you would however be sorely disappointed and even upset if you're judging the price by expected guide rules. The lesson here perhaps for vintage Halloween collectors and sellers are these --- patience, perspective, season, quantity, quality, and knowledge.
Halloween's seasonal nature seems key (especially for the non-obsessed public-at-large) in determining the collectible demand of vintage items. While at times powerful, there is a historical mix of poor auction results that would seem to make the genre a rather bad "investment" --- (if you choose to think of the ghosts of holiday past in those terms). While much is made of some items reaping impressive returns, one would wonder if the genre may ever reach the skyrocketing prices seen by other collectibles --- (simply scan a pamphlet by any of the big auction houses and compare the results of other collectible genres).
It's a real trick or treat (depending on what side of the transaction you stand) to resell vintage holiday. Seasonal peak interest is only one challenge. Availability (of both poor and quality items) is also changing with the internet lessening rarity (also challenging the belief that past generations simply discarded objects the way we do now). Mis-perception of the market creates bids without adequate personal research; while pensive sellers stall sales under a nebulous concept of reaching "true" or higher market-value. As well, more vintage-style arts and printable knock-offs now vie for attention that dilute our yearning for true vintage and/or offer items perhaps more fitting to modern expectations of artistry and/or materials.
Some recent examples show that a few auction houses had results that would likely make past winners question the value of previously won acquisitions. A couple of auction houses (including one of high profile) recently sold off large lots of Halloween postcards that averaged only a little over $10 per card. While another auction house (offering a mix of old and mis-labeled newer items) had prices for true vintage reach results more akin to some previous decade --- see examples below:
$140 or $13 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $400).
$100 or $17 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $400).
$100 or $20 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $400).
$30 (approximate lot valuation ~ $200).
$90 or $13 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $500).
$20 (approximate lot valuation ~ $500).