Halloween Retrospect, Vol 4

NEW! Vintage Halloween Collectibles Guide:
The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4

Returning now this March 2025 with a new book for sale --- The Halloween Retrospect (see THR's bookstore on etsy) announces the latest edition released in a series of vintage Halloween collectibles guidebooks now with The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4. THR's archive librarian picking  up the digest series once again with a new book that not only continues solving old market mysteries (via 625+ catalogs 1900-01979) but has the honor of including a one-of-a-kind nowhere-else-available freebie vintage-style paper decoration by Bindlegrim with an homage piece to faux stained glass educational items from the 1940’s. Also, as good measure for its puzzling audience, THR has created another new Halloween-themed crossword with its Frolic Flier series.

Set of items with THR,V4 features book, puzzle, & decor.

 The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 (2025)
$25.00 + tax/shipping. (Purchase this book via Etsy)

The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 continues utilizing the assistance of other U.S. archives allowing for an expansive ability to explore Halloween history. In this fourth edition, THR is proud to share data from Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History– hometown to famous creator Milton Bradley and his entertainment and education-minded company! Like digest Volume 1 before it, Volume 4 again digs deeply into early-century educational products for Halloween that show how it was such a vibrant holiday for young people! Part 1 examines the art educator career of Louise D. Tessin, and Part 2  considers her and other Milton Bradley contributors regarding certain faux stained glass paper decorations. And while other articles and a crossword are included (see Contents below), what some may love most is a vintage-style Halloween decor items decoration created as an homage to those of the 1940's by contemporary artist Bindlegrim.

Cover THR,V4 features Jack O'Lantern Boy (c. 1941)

Page samples of research articles from the book.

THR, V4 set comes with crossword and decoration.

Vintage-style Halloween decoration by Bindlegrim.

The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 is the newest 2025 digest book for collectors of Halloween who enjoy intense scrutiny on certain vintage collectibles. This is achieved through the presence of an on-site archive library (now about 625+ resources), as well as data assistance from various company records held in the United States. In Volume 4 a feature two-part article examines the career of well-known art educator Louise D. Tessin, while the second-part uses that review as a jumping off point to examine the back-story behind peculiar stained glass paper decorations – advertised in the art educator magazines by Milton Bradley that highlighted contributors such as Tessin. Additional items include: the next as semi-related to the main topic (of stained glass windows) with a quick review of Sunday school supplies from the 1930’s via David C. Cook, followed by revelations of educational Halloween products with a peek at John Wilcox, ending with a visual glance at an illustrator seen earlier in Volume 3, Mabel Betsy Hill. See table of contents for further descriptions.

The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 contents:

Inserts A: Transparency (new from Bindlegrim) homage to Milton Bradley’s stained glass paper decorations from 1940’s. [For related topics read blog entry To: Halloween, From: Xmas].

Insert B: Puzzle Bulletin II featuring 18×18 Halloween-themed crossword “Sight Seer Roundup” by Robert Aaron Wiley.

Introduction (pg. 4) is a shortened introduction to the archive library with important information about its research mission.

Bradley’s Creatives – Part 1 A Short History of Holiday Visionary Louise D. Tessin (pg. 6) studies the history of an early art educator professionally hired for Milton Bradley offering a unique holiday vision in various roles from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. Includes some data concerning the artist’s personal art projects. Contains 10 illustrations as well as source references.

Bradley’s Creatives – Part 2 Tessin, Her Contemporaries, and a Colorful Invention (pg. 14) examines the professional work of Tessin with a limited comparison to other Milto Bradley contributors (Payberg, Gode, Rehtus, Kilborn, etc.) of the time period. Combines this study with a query of possible artistic vision behind Milton Bradley’s set of stained glass window transparency decor from the 1940’s.  

Contains 22 illustrations, 2 timeline tables, as well as source references. [For related topics read blog entry To: Halloween, From: Xmas].

October’s Cathedral A Secret Cache Of Hallowe’en For Sunday School (pg. 25) reviews the surprising reference of Sunday school catalogs (particularly David C. Cook) as a modern resource for studying early century Halloween novelties on the vintage market. Contains 4 illustrations as well as source references.

John Wilcox & Hallowe’en Up-to-date, Unique, & Splendid Portrayals of Spirit (pg. 28) identifies certain obscure decorations as supplied through educator-focused catalog advertisements for the company. Contains 4 illustrations as well as source references.

The Witches’ Dance More Hallowe’en Chaos by Artist Mabel Betsy Hill (pg. 31) revisits the amazing vision of one illuminator seen earlier in THR publications (such as Volume 3) when reviewing early haunted house imagery in Better Homes & Gardens. Contains 7 illustrations as well as source references.

Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 – Vol. 4 (pg. 33) from first to fourth digests.

Vintage Halloween collectibles books for March 2025.

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.

Vintage Halloween collectibles books for March 2025.