Vintage Halloween Collectibles Research (1900-1979)

Sane Halloween Observer If the popularity and inventiveness of Beistle is to vintage Halloween collectibles what a major pop group is to music, then Rust Craft is the obscure alterna-band you never heard of - somewhat (yet thankfully) obscure and magically bizarre. (Apologies for the lo-fi quality of these images)...  For more Rust Craft, see also:  Ain't Grub Grand!  or  Gold Filigree Halloween .

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... 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 i...

Sane Halloween Observer digital mock-up created from photo of fence/pumpkin pieces Here's a vintage decoration set that gets generally pooh-poohed by some time-wearied collectors, however those with less discriminating eyes will have an instant fondness for the design and the roughly executed graphics seen on boxes or the instructions (shown below). The label depicts a picket fence posted with a weathered sign in turn illustrating the kit's arrangement featuring one large pumpkin peeking out from black-rimmed eyes. These were Dennison centerpiece kits that included a box of orange crepe-grass, classic cat/fence silhouettes of at least 2 different lengths, pumpkins to prop between fence slats, and a large air-fillable paper pumpkin. ( The expanding pumpkin was somewhat like these paper balloons from Japan). actual product label Although I attempted to find something more about the long history of the Dennison company, these recent articles of the company...

  Sane Halloween Observer Shown below is a complete set of 12 table-setting placecards for a Halloween party by Rust Craft of Boston  (who later merged with Norcross Greeting Card Company). The art exhibits the strange and surreal storybook imagery that makes their work so identifiable (particularly images like the ghost riding the black cat). These cards would come packaged in a small marked black box. Cultural note - " Lay on, Macduff " refers to a line from Macbeth.