Vintage Halloween Collectibles Guidebooks
Vintage Halloween Collectibles Guidebooks:
As the image states above, The Halloween Retrospect is a new guidebook series for vintage Halloween collectibles as a digest series for collectors seeking an archive and library research emphasis on the novelty markets of yesteryear (1900-1979). And so, while recent blog entries have focused on bits of this-and-that related to articles inside the editions of The Halloween Retrospect (available on THR's Bookstore via Etsy), this particular entry reviews the books' contents as well as page samples and poster inserts.
Guidebooks for the vintage Halloween collector
with a focus on vintage research through vintage sources.
with a focus on vintage research through vintage sources.
As noted elsewhere, it is my wish as jack o'lantern of all trades, that is, as the author, editor, collector, archivist, librarian, artist, designer, publisher, and seller for this book series, that you too are seeking more details about old Halloween than previously available these last twenty or so years. In doing so, my goal has always been to find primary sources that can present their stories. Those results owe more to the discoverability and accessibility of vintage references made possible by the efforts of others, whereas I put the pieces together and offer sources to the reader.
Volume 2 of The Halloween Retrospect:
$25.00 + tax/shipping. (Etsy THR Bookstore)
The Halloween Retrospect, Volumes 2 continues the tradition of researching America’s past Halloween marketplace. The guidebook’s feature article examines Dennison publications with significant finds from Framingham History Center. As well, V2 offers information on B. Shackman & Co, E. Rosen Co., and certain German imports (see cover art).
Poster & cards included with guidebook THR, V2.
Page samples inside guidebook Volume 2, THR.
Poster for guidebook THR, V2 reviews Dennison.
Description:
The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 2 - Official copies of this 9″x6″ softcover 32-page book (with color and black & white illustrations) include poster and 2 timeline cards.
The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 2 - Official copies of this 9″x6″ softcover 32-page book (with color and black & white illustrations) include poster and 2 timeline cards.
Inserts:
A: Poster, Dennison’s 1909-1935 Autumn Publications with Serial Numbers (see Decrypting Dennison)
B: Timeline cards: (2) featuring witch candy container and black cat lantern. (see Shackman’s 70 / 72)
Table of Cotents:
Letterbox (pg. 4) w/Introduction - Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5) updates readers with a shortened guidebook introduction to the archive and important information about the library as a means to explain the mission and tone of the publication.
Decrypting Dennison - Serial Number Guide Featuring Autumn Publication (pg. 10) examines and translates the dashed number system found on print publications by Dennison’s Manufacturing Company. Particular focus is given to Halloween-themed titles from the 1910’s to the 1930’s yet information transfers to your favorite Dennison’s titles. [For more on this read blog entry: Dennison Halloween and Dennison Publications].
Contains 7 illustrations as well as source references. Poster insert.
Shackman’s 70 / 72 - Peculiar Catalogs from the Tens & Thirties (pg. 20) offers a brief history of B. Shackman & Co. with the majority of focus on the numeric system of product catalogs and resulting anomalies. Includes other data for dating vintage catalogs by the company.
Contains 4 illustrations as well as source references. Card inserts.
Skittle or Decor - The New Identity Crisis for Vintage Figures (pg. 24) reviews content of 515+ store-vendor catalogs to consider the question: skittle or decor? Also reviews data concerning the customer-facing side of sales and use.
Contains 10 illustrations as well as source references.
Trix or Treats at Sears - Rosen in Midcentury Midseason Fall Catalogs (pg. 28) considers Rosen cards in the Halloween candy sections of Sears Midseason Fall Book 1946 to 1954, with a focus on sucker cards appearing in catalog clippings.
Contains 5 illustrations as well as source references.
Index - The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (pg. 32) begins to develop a reference of keywords across the book series.
NOTE: The first 100 copies of THR, Vol 2 have small hand-written corrections page 29-32, & an additional note card of explanation, per small edits that didn’t clear the printer’s final run.
NOTE: please consider a donation or the purchase of a Membership to help support the Framingham History Center. I am sure most of us know the challenges all archives and libraries face to remain discoverable and accessible. If we, as collectors, can spend a bit of money on vintage objects, we can aid the institutions that further our knowledge. THR, though a hobbyist venture, has pledged to donate a portion of each sale from THR, V2 to Framingham History Center as a show of gratitude.
Volume 1 of The Halloween Retrospect:
$25.00 + tax/shipping. (Etsy THR Bookstore)
The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 is the first in a series of new guide books (in digest form) to offer critical perspective of the traditional narrative surrounding vintage Halloween markets, and by result offering important information to collectors in the field.
Poster, tallies included with guidebook THR, V1.
Article samples from guidebook Volume 1, THR.
Poster for guidebook THR, V2 reviews March Bros.
Cover for vintage Halloween guidebook, THR, V1.
$25.00 + tax/shipping. (Etsy THR Bookstore)
$25.00 + tax/shipping. (Etsy THR Bookstore)
Description:
The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 - Official copies of new 9″x6″ softcover 32-page guide (book with color, black & white illustrations) include poster and bookmark-tallies.
The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 - Official copies of new 9″x6″ softcover 32-page guide (book with color, black & white illustrations) include poster and bookmark-tallies.
Inserts:
A: Poster: 11×17 fold-out featuring a 1926 full-page advertisement (see Normal Halloween)
B: Bookmark-tallies: a 4 card set featuring cover art by Bindlegrim
Articles:
Letterbox (pg. 4) | Introduction Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Sources (pg. 5) introduces the new guide series with important information about mission and tone of the publication.
Normal Halloween - Holiday Novelties & Early Twentieth Century Youth (pg. 10) feature article of the new guide examines vintage Halloween products available to students, mainly via two classroom supply companies March Brothers Publishing Company and Paine Publishing Company. [For more on this see blog entry: Normal Ad, Bogie Book 1926 and 1926 Halloween Poster].
Contains 7 illustrations as well as source references. Poster insert.
Western Novelty Co. 1928-1990 - Carnival, Concession, & Bazaar Supplies – Colorado (pg. 17) briefly reviews an extensive collection of catalogs (and any appearance of vintage Halloween) housed in Denver, Colorado. [For more on thi see blog entry: Western Novelty Co.].
Contains 3 illustrations as well as source references.
Timeline for Witches - A Journey of Two Witches: United States & Germany (pg. 20) examines two vintage products, one from the U.S. and one from Germany, that via timelines explores their history as evidenced by the archive’s library.
Contains 9 illustrations as well as source references.
Ornamenten Groteske - The Enigmatic History of German Diecuts (pg. 26) reviews catalogs for German embossed paper products to gauge the disparity between modern narrative and vintage print records.
Contains 2 illustrations as well as source references.
Craw-Bogle Trader a proposal for off-market collecting.