Customer Reviews

Vintage Halloween Collectibles

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a collector of Vintage Halloween, this is the most comprehensive and well researched book on the topic to date that I have found. The layout is spectacular and well thought out. Photographs and descriptions are superb. The "tab" index that identifies the chapters makes it easy to find a particular item and the rarity rating is a wonderful addition for serious collectors. Almost all of the items pictured are in first-rate condition, well-described and logically grouped. If you are going to buy one book on Vintage Halloween, this is the best!

Another Halloween has come and gone but for some people like myself, the Halloween holiday lives on 365 days a year due to my love of the holiday and my passion for Halloween décor. When I was a kid, I used to be rather afraid of the old decorations in my grandmother's house. These were quite a bit scarier than those jointed cardboard skeletons and plastic light-up pumpkins that I was used to...Little did I know then just how valuable those pieces were. When she passed away about ten years ago my wife and I scoured her house for those trinkets but alas, they were nowhere to be found, most likely tossed in the trash years ago.

Vintage Halloween Collectibles from Krause Publications is yet another outstanding edition to their library of collectibles books. When I first received the book I literally sat down for a couple of hours and just browsed through the book from cover-to-cover, looking for the items my Grandmother used to have as well as finding the few items that I've been able to collect. Collecting vintage Halloween decorations is no easy task Halloween wasn't nearly as big and commercialized decades ago as it is today. Vintage Christmas items show up endlessly at flea markets and garage sales but vintage Halloween items are much harder to come by because there just wasn't as much made, not too mention that much of it was made out of paper and simply didn't last as long.

This 256 page trade paperback book covers some 1600 items and features over 1100 full-color photos. The book lists the item with country of origin, manufacturer, date of manufacture, dimensions, current value, and, perhaps most importantly, a scarcity index on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the rarest and 5 being the most common. Naturally, the items my grandmother had fell into the common arena but still were fairly valuable, all things considered. The items are broken down into eight different category chapters including games, candy containers and figures, noisemakers, and decorations.

I found it interesting that there were so many games that involved fortune telling that were made in the 30's and 40's. This is certainly a sign of that era's infatuation with mysticism. One motif that seemed so common back in the first half of the 20the century that you don't see much today is devil and demon décor. The stereotypical red horned devil was a very common theme that has nearly disappeared from modern décor...I guess that's' a sign of OUR times. The other overwhelming common theme was the black cat. The book contains hundreds of black cat items from figurines to paper lanterns. The lanterns are things I remember distinctly from my youth and I am still amazed at the intricate detail of these rather delicate Halloween decorations. The book has dozens of examples of paper lanterns adorned by witches, black cats, pumpkins, and skeletons. These items are beautiful and Krause has done a great job with clear, beautiful photography of these rarities.

One of the most interesting chapters is simply called "A Nice Variety" because the items didn't fit into any of the other categories. These feature items such as paper aprons, candy boxes, candles and candleholders, books and magazines. The covers to the books published by Dennison's in the 20's and 30's are gorgeous. These books were geared towards the woman of the house with ideas for recipes, decorations, and Halloween games. I also loved the die-cut chapter because those are the decorations I remember my mother having as a young kid and still fondly remember. But again, those red devil die-cuts, circa the 1930's are just wonderful. These items may not be easy to find anymore, but if you do, there is simply no better resource than this book from Krause Publications.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

This new book excells in the areas of detailed information and rare items not seen in the previous 7 books released on the subject. The scarcity index is a great tool for comparing rarity between items and will help collectors make up their minds when faced with multiple buying options. There is extensive information on dating items that goes far beyond what has been touched upon in other books, including histories of maker's marks. The photos are well taken and highlight some of the rarest and most beautiful halloween decorations ever produced. The book has a great feel to it, reads well, and is crisply designed. If only all collectible reference books had this attention to detail! This book is an absolute must for the collector, or the person who is struck in awe by the beauty of these antique graphics.

I've been waiting for this kind of book to come around for years. There hasn't been a detailed, methodical and deeply researched book on Halloween collectibles like this before. I cannot believe how many items in this reference I have never even seen before. What I found very helpful was how clear Mr. Ledenbach is in explaining the various marks used by the manufacturers of Halloween items. This helps me greatly as a collector. The items are well laid-out, and follow logically one item to another. The chapters are thoughtfully constructed, and his Inner Sanctum section is inspired. He also uses a "rarity index" which I've never seen before. Congratulations to the author for a job very well done. If you are going to buy just one book on the subject, make sure it is this one!!

I am impressed with this book. The research and documentation is so thoroughly done that I feel I can use this as the definitive guide for my Halloween collection. I like also that there are things in this book that I haven't seen anywhere else. This is a great catalogue of an extensive collection, and is a must for anyone who collects antique Halloween. Well done!

This masterpiece of a book on Halloween collectibles is a must have for the collector of vintage Halloween. The layout, the concise descriptions, the clear pictures and rating system of each item makes this book the best source for the collector. Mark Ledenbach deserves this 5 star rating. I hope he develops a book on Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving collectibles. I love this book!!

This is a scholarly review by one of the foremost, if not the foremost Hallowe'en collector to date. Concise, well written, informative and well organized all describe a fabulous collection with many items which I had never even dreamed existed. (And I have a little knowledge on the subject myself) Bravo Mark on an extraordinary achievement.

Mark B. Ledenbach's new book "Vintage Halloween Collectibles"
is an exhaustively comprehensive reference guide for all collectors of Halloween. It is also a valuable resource for dealers who would like a better understanding of value and rarity for their own selling standards. Inside you will find an extensive catalog of vintage Halloween items beautifully photographed with each item carefully identified by maker, country of origin, year made, dimensions, level of rarity and current value. The book covers a huge range of decorations, noise makers, diecuts, candy containers, nodders, figurals, lanterns and shades, games and more! If you've been a long time collector of Halloween or are just beginning, you will find this book an invaluable tool--not to mention it's just plain fun to browse through!

If there is a book you must own about halloween............THIS IS IT. Do not hesitate. This book will become the definitive "bible" about antique halloween decorations. Stunning photography of a top notch collection with history and facts that are entertaining and informative. Even if you have never looked at antique halloween decorations, you will want this book. Other books have been written in the past by authors with inaccurate information and lousy pictures who just want to be in print. Mr Ledenbach truly put his heart and soul in this book to ensure quality, accuracy and that the smallest detail is correct. RUN, DO NOT WALK TO BUY THIS WONDERFUL BOOK!!

I've been collecting Halloween items for many years and have enjoyed several of the books published on this subject - but this one tops them all. Crisp photography, a super clean layout and VERY informational captioning on all items makes this a must-have reference. Many of the items in this book must be one-of-a-kind. I'm really glad I bought a copy!