Vintage Halloween Collectibles

I’ve always loved Halloween. Not only for the candy, which still rates pretty high on my list of life’s little treats, but also for the fun atmosphere it imparts. Spooky decorating, costume parties, and adorable trick-or-treaters allow us to embrace autumn’s festivity fully each and every year. That’s probably why I love older Halloween collectibles so much, too.

In Vintage Halloween Collectibles, by Mark B. Ledenbach (Krause Publications), these reminders of yesteryear are explored in full color. Collectors conscious about price points will appreciate the values included with each photo in this book even though they may be just a tad on the high side.

In general, however, Halloween collectibles have gained so much value in the market during the past five to ten years Ledenbach’s figures don’t look unreasonable in the grand scheme of things.

As an example of how rarity can up the ante, table decorations from the 1930s featuring cardboard cutouts and paper honeycombs can be quite pricey selling for $75-300 each, depending on the design. For instance, a black cat cutout from that era sitting atop a paper honeycomb pumpkin might sell for $75. But if the cutout forms a witch with jointed arms and the cone-shaped honeycomb makes up her skirt, the price skyrockets into the $300 zone.

The key factors here are rarity and condition. One of the great aspects about Ledenbach’s publication is that each item is graded according to how rare it is in the marketplace. Older paper party decorations are hard to find in general, but finding them in mint condition is next to impossible. While that aforementioned black cat is considered scarce, the witch is exceedingly rare according to the book’s guide to rarity which certainly comes in handy when pondering values.

Most of the items included in this identification and value guide are also in very good to mint condition. Since many Halloween decorations and games were made of paper, they were usually discarded soon after a party or used year after year until they practically disintegrated into pulp. Finding them pristine can be quite the challenge, but other options offer a little more durability.

While reasonable is a relative term when you consider what you’re paying for in the Halloween collectibles world, tin items like noisemakers and horns can offer an alternative to pricey paper collectibles. From clappers to ratchets and tambourines, these party favors have generally held up pretty well over the years.

Ledenbach’s guide shows a good number of tin noisemakers and horns from the ‘60s in more common styles from $20-30. When found in less than pristine condition, they’ll likely be even lower in price whether you’re shopping at a flea market or foraging online auctions.

But with these finds as well, a rare example dating back to the 1920s can be worth $100 or more so it’s prudent to be certain you’re dating your collectibles accurately. That’s actually where a nice guide like this really comes in handy. Most vintage Halloween collectibles you’ll run across these days aren’t all that rare, but occasionally you will find a “sleeper” worth a nice chunk of change and being able to identify those finds is invaluable.

Will this guide serve its purpose for the Halloween collector in the long haul? The short answer: yes.

Whether you’re arming yourself with knowledge before adding to a growing collection or attempting to sell off some of your stash, Vintage Halloween Collectibles doesn’t disappoint in the quality and quantity of content it delivers.