There is something about items
from a bygone time that invoke feelings of nostalgia, whimsy, and a connection
to those who came before.
Some people collect things that
remind them of their childhood. Some collect items that catch their eye or
represent something they love (like Halloween), while others feel a deep
connection to certain time periods and they collect items from that era.
I love shopping for antiques,
vintage and retro items. I love the connection to the past and revel at the
history. It is awe inspiring to see how some things survived. I like to imagine
who used to own and love the simple treasures.
The popularity of Halloween
collectibles is growing. The colorful, whimsical, and sometimes frightening
decorations make great display items.
Halloween decorations and
collectibles are rarer than Christmas collectibles. Christmas items were
usually packed away every year to be used again while Halloween items were often
used once for parties then tossed in the trash.
Before purchasing any
collectibles do your research. Today’s Halloween market is flooded with
reproductions as nostalgia takes hold and people want décor that reminds them
of Halloweens gone by.
You can learn how to date
Halloween collectibles by studying imagery used during certain times periods
and becoming familiar with maker marks, logos, and date stamps.
Americans began decorating for
Halloween with pieces made in Germany until the German imports stopped during
World War I.
Postcards from the Victorian and
Late Art Nouveau eras showcased rosy cheeked children bobbing for apples and
pretty young women using fortune telling and superstition to determine who they
were going to marry.
The Art Deco era showcased
flapper-style décor featuring elves and fairies from European Folklore.
1900-1918 was a very popular time
period for postcards with 1910 being recognized as the height of the era.
Millions of postcards were produced every year making them one of the easiest
collectibles as many still exist today. Some of the rarest cards can be quite
expensive but you can create a low cost collection of Halloween postcards if
you don’t mind ones that were actually used, mailed, and show a little age.
You can see some of the most
beautiful examples of Halloween postcard art in the book Halloween Romantic Art and Customs of Yesteryear by Diane C Arkins.
The book is also filled with vintage party games and customs from the early
twentieth century.
In the 30’s and 40’s American
artists created an American style of Halloween decorating characterized by
America’s love of movies and comic books.
The "Golden Years" of
Halloween production are considered to be 1920-1949.
In the late 40’s and into the 50’s
plastics became more popular. Items were being made of paper, metal and bisque
less and less as plastic was cheaper and easier to produce.
The Golden Age of plastics, the
Hard Plastic Era, began after World War II and ended in the early 1960’s when
hard plastic gave way to vinyl.
Hard plastics were thought to be
longer lasting than metal, but they aren’t and that’s why the older pieces are
so highly collectible today. Halloween plastics from the Art Deco era are the
most valuable plastic Halloween collectibles. Look for items made by these
companies: Renwal, Knickerbocker, Ideal, Plasco, E. Rosen/Rosbro Plastics,
Acme, Irwin Plastics, Tico Toys Inc., and Marx.
If you are considering collecting
Halloween plastics a great reference guide is Halloween Favorites in Plastic by Charlene Pinkerton.
If you are considering collecting
early Halloween ephemera made by the Beistle Company the book you want is Timeless Halloween Collectibles 1920-1949
by Claire M. Lavin.
Beistle is an American company
that has been in business since 1900. They started making Halloween paper party
goods and decorations in 1917. Lately they’ve been digging into their archives
and pulling out some designs from the past to create gorgeous new Halloween
decorations with vintage flair. The only problem with that is newbie collectors
can mistake new reproductions for vintage pieces. Always do your research
before investing. A true collectible piece can go for hundreds of dollars while
a new reproduction piece retails for less than $10.
Another American company that
produced Halloween products was the Dennison Paper Company. In addition to
paper products and party decorations they issued a yearly Bogie Book which featured their decorations, tips for decorating,
party ideas, costumes, recipes, and Halloween stories. The first Bogie Book came out in 1909 but
officially began in 1912 as an annual publication. In 1927 the Bogie Book became Party Magazine.
Types
of Collectibles
Postcards
Paper Goods- Treat Bags, Tally
Cards, Invitations, Etc.
Party Supplies- Napkins, Plates,
Cups, Tableclothes
Diecuts
Lanterns, Lamp Shades, and
Transparencies
Party Pennant Banners and Other
Party Decorations
Noisemakers
Masks
Plastic Blow Molds
Plastics
Toys
Candy Containers
Bobble Heads, Nodders
Games
Fortune Telling Games and Accessories
Folk Art
Candles
Books, Magazines, and Catalogs
Tips
for Collecting
Halloween collecting became
popular in the early to mid-1990’s when magazines dedicated to holiday
collecting emerged.
Valuing collectibles can be
difficult. Prices fluctuate constantly as markets change. The main pricing
components are based on rarity, whether or not it has all its original parts
and pieces, and condition but what it really boils down to is how much someone
is willing to pay for it.
If a collector is searching for
something specific then they’ll pay more for it than someone who is just browsing
or someone who already owns a similar piece.
Rare pieces are usually going to
fetch more money because there are not very many pieces still in existence, but
there still has to be a demand for that item. If no one is collecting it
doesn’t matter how rare something is.
Good condition collectibles
should have original parts and pieces. If a piece is in mint condition it will
fetch more. Highest dollar often goes to NIB (new in box pieces) and NOS (new
old stock) pieces that have never been used or displayed. New in box and new
old stock are often found in storage, closed down stores, warehouses, or in
private collections.
Flea markets, yard sales, garage
sales, and resale shops are excellent places to search for Halloween
collectibles and not pay a fortune for them. These types of sales are often
full of things people just want to get rid of and they are not priced at
collectible value. I can’t tell you how many antiques and collectibles I have
found for pennies over the years.
Antique stores and antique/collectible
shows price items at retail collectible value and then some but you can usually
be assured that the item is real and worth what you pay.
Collecting Halloween items is a
great hobby but don’t use it as an investment tool. Collect what you love, not
what is popular or valuable. Purchase the items that you personally connect
with.
Books About Halloween Collectibles
Halloween: Collectible Decorations and Games by Pamela Apkarian-Russell
TimelessHalloween Collectibles 1920-1949 by Claire M. Lavin.
Halloween Favorites in Plastic by Charlene Pinkerton
Halloweenin America: A Collector's Guide With Prices by Stuart Schneider
VintageHalloween Collectibles by Mark B. Ledenbach
VintageHalloween Collectibles by Mark B. Ledenbach
Halloween collectibles always feel so daunting, but your thorough list is so helpful and informative! I also love all the outside resources you included for each specific type of collectible for those of us who may have a more specific preference.
ReplyDeleteIt can be daunting but I just collect for fun. So I choose what resonates with me. I don't worry about "value" just that I enjoy it. However I do pay attention to prices because I don't want to overpay. Mostly I buy at yard sales where things sell for cheap because people don't know they're selling "collectibles".
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