Catalog: Popular Collectibles: Decorations: Holiday (132)

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"

Very rare early German double-ratchet noisemaker featuring a composition devil head wearing a crepe paper ruffle. The ratchet is stained orange and black and is stamped "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca 1920
• Condition:very good, all original, a few nicks to the composition at high points (ear and horn tips, nose, cheeks)
• Dimensions: 7" x 4-1/4"

This Matchless star Christmas light has clear glass prisms and a red glass gem. The base is bakelite and the bulb is C-6. These star lights were manufactured by the Matchless Electic Co. of Chicago, circa 1930. This light is 2 inches in diameter and in working condition. Condition: excellent.

This Matchless star Christmas light has amber glass prisms and a cobalt blue glass gem. This is one of the less common color combinations. The base is bakelite and the bulb is C-6. These star lights were manufactured by the Matchless Electic Co. of Chicago, circa 1930. This light is 2 inches in diameter and in working condition. Condition: excellent.

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 vintage composition candy container in the rare form of a pink pig. The head is delicately painted to highlight a devilish face with red lips and a broad grin in which he bares his teeth. The painted eyes give him an overall scarey look. The tail is rawhide or leather while the head detaches from the body to reveal the storage compartment -- what an odd place to hide that holiday Christmas candy ! German vintage figural candy containers in the form of uncommon animals are rare.

Dimensions: 6 inches long and 3 1/4 inches tall from the foot to the tip of his ear.

Origin: Faintly marked Germany on the underside of the pig.

Circa 1920.

Condition: Very nice, with a bit of flaking around the neck. No visible repairs or breaks.

Terrific vintage Christmas ornament fashioned from a papier-mache bell turned into a house. A cotton batting Santa Claus with a composition face is attached to the side. Unmarked, but most likely Japanese. Circa 1930. Very good condition, a little of the paint missing from the hanger and some wear to the "feather" trees. 3-1/2" high.

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.

A colorful antique composition witch's head from hand puppet or marionette. She has a long crooked nose and just two snarling teeth.

• Origin: probably Germany, ca 1910
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Dimenisions: 2-3/4" tall

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.

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".

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Pretty vintage Halloween postcard showing a young couple, he dressed as a Pilgrim and she dressed as a Victorian lady, walking along a scary path through the woods. They have just startled a black cat while a pair of witches look on from the background. The card has nice colors. The two lower corners have some creasing, sharp edges. The back is postmarked 1910.

A scary antique composition Devil head from a hand puppet or marionette. His features are dramatically highlighted with colorful paint (all original) to be seen from a distance.

• Origin: probably Germany, ca 1910
• Condition: excellent, all original paint, very small area of flaking at the tip of one horn at the back of one ear
• Dimensions: 3-1/4" tall.