Catalog (172)

An extremely rare early German wooden double-ratchet noisemaker featuring a composition and wood witch with moveable arms. Ratchets with full-body figures are very uncommon. The witch wears a red crepe paper ruffle and a pinkish paper skirt. The ratchet is stamped "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca 1920
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Dimensions: 9-1/2" x 5-1/2"

Vintage Halloween papier-mache Veggie Person or Jack o'Lantern, one side painted with a male face and the other side with a female face. Both sides have protruding red nose. The bottom is stamped "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca 1920
• Condition: excellent, all original, bright color
• Dimensions: 3" diameter

A rare vintage bisque jack o'lanern placecard holder and candy container. A thin slit just above the eyes holds a placecard. This is the only bisque card holder/candy container we've seen.

• Origin: Germany, ca. 1929
• Condition: very good; about 10% paint loss
• Dimensions: 2" diamter

Antique German Halloween composition Veggie Man head from a candy container. He has a lot of personality with big teeth, spectacles, and a jaunty hat.

• Origin: Germany, ca. 1920
• Condition: excellent, about 1% paint loss
• Dimensions: 2-1/8" tall; 1-3/8" wide

Vintage McLoughlin game of "Peter Coddle and His First Trip to New York." Excellent lithographed box cover showing Mr. Coddle as he examines an early bicycle. The box has some scuffs along the edges and the top edge of the lithograph has a tear. 4-1/4"x5-1/2".

Very funny Halloween postcard featuring a cow scaring his milkmaid by wearing jack o'lanterns on his horns. The front is marked "Copyright 1909 by Julius Bien & Co., N.Y." Heavily embossed and very nice colors. Postmarked 1910.

Nice good condition, with light rounding at corners, a slight crease in the bottom quarter of the card, and a tiny tear (about 1/16") in one margin.

Very rare painted metal figure of a black girl mounted on an alabaster base. The girl wears a yellow pinafore with blue trim, a blue hair bow, red socks, black Mary Janes, and carries a basket of flowers. The alabaster base has a slot to hold a place card. American, circa 1900. 2" tall. The alabaster has some nicks at the edges, but the figure is in very good condition.

Terrific embossed Halloween post card with an unusual comic scene. Front marked "Copyright 1909 by Julius Bien & Co., N.Y.". Series 980. Postmarked 1909. Terrific color and good condition except for tiny bends at three corners. Unused.

Excellent early embossed Halloween post card featuring a unusual comic scene of a man being frightened by a jack o'lantern snake. Marked "Copyright 109 by Julius Bien & Co, NY". Series 980. Very nice condition with just the slightest of rounding at corners. Unused.

Halloween post card featuring a comic couple. The card advises the lady to make sure to prearrange having her boyfriend stand behind her as she looks in the mirror so that the trick works properly Notice the witch watching them from behind!. Marked on reverse "H/Series #1". Unused.

Excellent vintage celluloid Christmas light in the form of Santa Claus carrying a pack of toys. Celluloid lights are very difficult to find because they were so brittle and flamable. They were made ca. 1915-25.

This one is in remarkable condition, in virtually mint condition. There are no splits, dents, burns or melts! The 3.5 volt bulb tests as non-working with a continuity tester (celluloid lights should never be tested with a 9-v battery). 3-3/4" tall.

This is as nice an example as you will ever find of a rare celluloid light!

Nice vintage embossed Halloween post card showing a boy carrying a black cat past a glowing jack-o'lantern. The illustration is unsigned, but looks like the work of Ellen Clapsaddle. Marked on the front with the letters "LSC" around a circle with a "C" in it. The back is marked "Series 226E". Unused. Circa 1910. Condition: softening along edges, nice color.

Cute embossed Halloween post card illustrating a boy using a giant jack o'lantern to scare a grown man. The man's hair is sticking straight up and his cap is flying off! The front is marked "Copyrighted 1909 By Julius Bien & Co., N.Y.". The back is marked "'Halloween' Series Number 980". Postmarked 1909. Condition: bright coloring, some light creasing, softened edges and corners.

Cute embossed Halloween post card depicting a sailor boy and a little girl carrying a huge pumpkin. Marked on front "Painting Only Copyrighted By International Art Pub. Co. 1908". The back is written upon, but not postmarked. Condition: bright coloring, sharp edges, small crease at one corner, a little dirty.

Sterling silver grapefruit spoon in Whiting's popular 1909 "Madam Jumel" pattern. The back is marked with Whiting's hallmark, the patent date, and the letter "T" indicating the weight.

Origin: America, circa 1909. Condition: very good except for a small ding at the edge of the bowl, sharp detail on handle, period monogram "P". Size: 5-1/2" long.

Very nice embossed vintage Halloween postcard featuring a line of girls dressed as ghosts and carrying smoking jack o'lanterns. The colors are bright and fresh. Postmarked (date illegible).

Origin: America, circa 1915. Condition: excellent, sharp corners, no tears or creases. Size: 5-1/2" x 3-1/2".

Fabulous handpainted sheet iron feather tree stand. The Christmas tree stand features three elves contemplating their traditional lucky mushrooms. The elves, one each in blue, red and yellow hooded suits, are seated on little grassy knolls planted with flowers. The painted details are terrific; each elf has completly different facial features than his friends. The center pole is painted green with metallic silver highlights.

Origin: probably Germany, circa 1910. Condition: completely original; 2 screws missing (easily replaced); paint is 95% intact and is very colorful. Size: 15-3/4" diameter; 9-1/4" high; opening for tree is 1-1/4" diameter.

Wonderful vintage children's Christmas storybook, "Jolly Santa Claus". The cover is printed in full color with a depiction of Santa arriving wiht a decorated tree and a load of toys. The interior has another full-color plate depicting Santa driving his team of reindeer toward his castle at the North Pole. Nearly every page has a black-and-white illustration. The stories are not restricted to Christmas, and include jingles, poems, historical stories, tales, etc. The book was published by M.A. Donohue & Co. of Chicago. All the pages are intact; the book has the usual wear around the edges of the covers. Circa 1910. 9-13/16" x 7-5/8".