Diecut Bubble 2

What is the true production and availability dates of German embossed Halloween diecuts?

Sane Halloween Observer


Do you have any concerns about the assessed rarity and value of German-made diecuts in your collection? It may be of interest to view a series of earlier entries here that show a number of diecuts (formerly dated 1920s-40s) instead appeared to have been on the market in the 1950s (Halloween in Germany:1955) through the 1960s (Seven Spooks in Narrenfibel) reaching all the way to the mid-1970s  (Dead Skeletons). As a possible reflection on what may be newer perspectives, or just post-holiday doldrums, here are some interesting auction results from January 2016... that are well below typical values suggested by various guides.

Jack O'Lantern and Mickey Mouse style characters made of embossed cardboard.
Sold for $125 ($25 each) plus auction fees.

Embossed cardboard, painted orange and black for Halloween.
Sold for $80 ($27 each) plus auction fees.

Flying owl, perched owl, and owl on the chin of a quarter moon.
Sold for $90 ($30 each) plus auction fees.

Trio of pumpkins and a black cat are credited as early century German production.
Sold for $0 - auction passed

Common and uncommon diecuts - decorations from holidays past.
Sold for $125 ($31 each) plus auction fees.

An interesting collection of witches and black cats, and a moon, are well know images of holidays past.
Sold for $125 ($31 each) plus auction fees.

Black cats and Jack O'Lanterns and quarter moon pieces with witch, pumpkin goblin, and arched cat.
Sold for $200 ($40 each) plus auction fees.

The last photograph is interesting in that the top two diecuts pictured have been presumed of rare 1920-1930 production dates, as mentioned above, yet recently discovered in oversea publications from a much more recent period. These two were for sale in 1965...!? (See pages below from the 1965 Einzinger Narrenfibel catalog).

What is the true vintage age of collectible Halloween German diecuts? This catalog (center top) dates a set of 9 to 1965.
Update 2-17-2018
More from this catalog in newer entry Ghost Cellar Jazz.

It will be interesting to see how any of the diecuts fare should buyers resell through a different market. Two were already resold at roughly 3x the amount shown. There is the ongoing question of prices in relation to venue and visibility (an effect mentioned in an earlier entry Diecut Bubble?). For example, below are ten Beistle diecuts (from the same auction above) initially sold at an extremely reasonable purchase price of $275 plus fees.

Witches, pumpkins, Jols, skeletons, black cats, owls, pirates, and more from American holidays of yesteryear.
Sold for $275 ($28 each) plus auction fees.

The same diecuts made their way to another venue (ebay) and were sold separately for a group total of roughly $1250! The larger $1000 portion of that amount was due solely on one very determined buyer. How do we assess the true value of these pieces? First price, second price, or would it fall somewhere in between?

There are more treats in vintage collectibles than are imagined in your Halloween dreams. If you are not keeping track of the all-too numerous items (especially items previously thought to be rare) that hit the market, then this gallery, a fraction of what becomes available, may be of interest:

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