New Guide for Vintage Halloween Lanterns

Vintage Halloween Collectible Guide:
THR's New Visual Survey of Lanterns

The Halloween Retrospect (see THR's bookstore on etsy here) is pleased to announce that as of the end of September 2024 nearly 200 books by THR have sold since the first research digests arrived for sale in June 2023. Perhaps that is relatively a small number, but the archive librarian feels this ain't too shabby give the niche subject matter, and that THR (publications) is a small do-it-yourself enterprise available only via the etsy bookstore.  And, at that, most of those books were wordy research digests based on data from THR's archive library (!!!) but now, just over a year later, THR begins a splashy new series of visual survey books that are more like art-books in their presentation of vintage Halloween collectibles. That said, the content remains focused on using that archive library of catalogs, newspapers, etc., to show the market availability of the items' as seen from the vintage market itself. 

Below you can read more about Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting - A Timeline Series Based on Novelty Merchandise Catalogs Managed by The Halloween Retrospect Library. 

THR's Vintage Halloween Collectibles Survey Book:
 Halloween Artifacts, Vol. 1: Lighting (2024)
$65.00 + tax/shipping. (Purchase this book via Etsy)

Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting A Timeline Series Based on Novelty Merchandise Catalogs Managed by The Halloween Retrospect Library is the newest guide book published for vintage Halloween collectibles. And while this new book series may shift from digest to art-book, it still utilizes primary sources for data wherever possible. 

What makes this book different? First, each item (usually one per page) is shown in large photographs. This either increases the size beyond the run-of-the-mill postage-stamp photos seen elsewhere, or allows for multiple views, sometimes unusual, of lanterns previously seen (or not). Second, each item contains a timeline from when it appeared on the vintage market (as seen via newspapers, 550+ vendor catalogs, etc.). Third, at least one of those appearance is shown as an inset image so readers can see how the item was portrayed as for sale in past. Following are some page examples:\

Guidebook featuring skeleton lantern by Dolly Toy

Guidebook featuring 3D Jack-o-Lanterns by Beistle Co.

Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting - A Timeline Series Based on Novelty Merchandise Catalogs Managed by The Halloween Retrospect Library focuses on jack o’lanterns, shades, and even prints in luminescent inks – all created for the vintage holiday market from 1900-1970. Across the main 100 page gallery-area of the book, readers will find works by Toledo Metal Sign Co, Beistle, Dennison, Gibson Art Co., Dolly Toy Co., American Novelty Co., Miller Electric Co., Hallmark, and Empire Plastics Corp. (just to name some of those that can be positively identified among more whose makers might not be as well known to us today). 

Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting contents:

Foreword by Charles Beck (pg. 4) offers an intro to the experience of meaningful vintage Halloween collecting and offers a look at Beck’s publications focused on antique and vintage photography featuring Halloween traditions. Contains photograph from Charles Beck’s “Halloween Haunts.”

Harvesting an Ember Glimmers of the Past in Lanterns, Shades, & Luminescent Inks (pg. 5) is the author’s introduction that builds for a reader a sense of what it is like finding the treasures of old Halloween, and beginning to comprehend their historical presence in a vintage marketplace. Contains 2 photographs from the author.

Introduction Revisiting a Foreword from Research Series THR, Vol. 1 (pg. 6) returns to the original publication by THR from 2023 to give a practical background of the author’s journey into research that includes the following segments: Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Source, THR’s Archive Library. Contains 4 photographs from the THR archive library. 

Halloween Artifacts: Lighting THR’s Archive Collection Synchronized with Library Data (pg. 10 )returns to the original publication by THR from 2023 to give a practical background of the author’s journey into research that includes the following segments: Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Source, THR’s Archive Library. Contains 4 photographs from the THR archive library.

Sources & Additional Reading A Quick List of Selected Publications (pg. 113) reviews a small list of sources used throughout the book, and includes a list of additional research from THR.

Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting appears in publications along with with more imagery, and an etsy checkout link. This author sells via THR Etsy Bookstore to control stock quality, manage applicable taxes as required, and ship in a sturdy box.

THR's vintage Halloween collectibles guides.

Other books from THR's Online Store

Three Volume Set Research Digest:
THR Volume 1, 2, 3 (2024)
$70.00 + tax/shipping. (Purchase this set via Etsy)

The Halloween Retrospect, Digest Set - collects the first three volumes (listed below) of the archive library's first foray into publications....

Vintage Halloween Collector's Research Digest:
THR Volume 3 (June 2024)
$25.00 + tax/shipping. (Etsy THR Bookstore)

The Halloween Retrospect, Volumes 3 - the third volume of The Halloween Retrospect features a two-part article that first studies haunted house ephemera (early-20th-century to mid-century) and secondly features cards by Gibson and centerpieces by Hallmark as evidence of new paper collectible innovations The book also has small articles on the 60’s wave of sound effects vinyl and a list of catalog terminology.

Poster & crossword puzzle included with guidebook THR, V3.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note official copies contain Hallmark centerpieces poster and crossword puzzle.

Letterbox (pg. 4)

Introduction, (pg. 4) Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5).

Halloween Haunts – Part 1 The Witch’s Cottage and Spook House Additions (pg. 8).

Halloween Haunts – Part 2 Engineered Mansions and Hallmark Innovations (pg. 14).

Haunted House Timeline Hallmark Haunted Houses 1950-1980: Poster & Key (pg. 25).

Haunted Vinyl Sixties Wave of Haunted House Recordings (pg. 27).

The Catalog Audience Understanding Readership to Define Content (pg. 29).

Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 -Vol. 3 (pg. 31).

Vintage Halloween Collector's Research Digest:
THR Volume 2 (Dec. 2023)
$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 (about serial numbers on publications) from Framingham History Center. As well, V2 offers information on B. Shackman catalogs, E. Rosen cards, and certain German imports (see cover art).

Poster & cards included with guidebook THR, V2.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note that official copies include a Dennison poster and Shackman postcards.

Letterbox (pg. 4)

Introduction Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5).

Decrypting Dennison Serial Number Guide Featuring Autumn Publication (pg. 10).

Shackman’s 70 / 72 Peculiar Catalogs from the Tens & Thirties (pg. 20).

Skittle or Decor The New Identity Crisis for Vintage Figures (pg. 24).

Trix or Treats at Sears Rosen in Midcentury Midseason Fall Catalogs (pg. 28).

Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (pg. 32).

Vintage Halloween Collector's Research Digest:
THR Volume 1 (July 2023)
$25.00 + tax/shipping.. (Etsy THR Bookstore)

The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 - with research pulled from the pages of nearly 500 catalogs (1900-1979) housed in one archive library, 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 and tally cards for Halloween guidebook, THR, V1.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note that official copies include bookmark-tallies and a March Brothers poster.

Letterbox (pg. 4).

Introduction Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Sources (pg. 5) .

Normal Halloween Holiday Novelties & Early Twentieth Century Youth (pg. 10).

Western Novelty Co. 1928-1990 Carnival, Concession, & Bazaar Supplies – Colorado (pg. 17).

Timeline for Witches A Journey of Two Witches: United States & Germany (pg. 20).

Ornamenten Groteske The Enigmatic History of German Diecuts (pg. 26).

Craw-Bogle Trader a proposal for off-market collecting (p. 32).

If you are just now encountering The Halloween Retrospect archive library and its in-house publishing, please see the Home page (for introduction and a list of numerous blog entries) or check out various pages such as About or Publications. And for all, this seems a good a time for a brief review of the past year’s output as a collectibles publication: The Halloween Retrospect.