For Halloween memorabilia collectors, German vintage Halloween items dating from the period between the two World Wars are the most highly sought after. According to Mark Ledenbach, the author of Vintage Halloween Collectibles, the prime years were 1919 to 1935.

Halloween isn’t traditionally celebrated in Germany. The German holiday, Walpurgis, which takes place May 1st is probably the holiday that most closely resembles our Halloween and on the eve of the holiday, Walpurgisnacht, German kids may head out to do some mischief and dress-up in costumes, but with the exception of homes near American military bases, there is no trick-or-treating from house to house.

So all of the paper products and other decorative Halloween items made in Germany were actually manufactured solely for export to the American market, ending up on sale at the discount department stores, Woolworth’s and K-Mart. And this wasn’t a big assembly line production effort either. Halloween manufacturing was a small cottage industry and the majority of German Halloween memorabilia were made by home craft workers or by small craft companies. Virtually all of the items were hand decorated as well and have a clearly homemade look to them.

Some of the highly desirable German vintage Halloween items include German die-cuts, composition candy containers, lanterns and German toys or figures. Many of the German Halloween toys featured brightly painted pumpkins or vegetable people with grimacing features. In addition to the standard pumpkins, witches and black cats, vegetable people were very popular in early Halloween imagery and feature in all kinds of products -- from postcards to candles.

If you decide to start collecting German Halloween collectibles, it’s important to keep a few warnings from Mark Ledenbach in mind. He has indicated on his website, HalloweenCollector.com, that items advertised as being “vintage”, but recently brought back on trips from Germany by other collectors, are not likely to be vintage at all. Remember that all of these items were manufactured for export. Since Germany didn’t celebrate Halloween (and still really doesn’t, at least not in the manner in which Americans celebrate it), there was no reason for any of these products to stay in Germany. Also be wary of any claims about vintage Halloween collectibles “found” in the former East Germany, for the same reason. There’s plenty of new Halloween decorations coming out of Germany today, but from a collector’s point of view, they certainly aren’t going to add anything to your vintage collection.

You can lots of wonderful and authentic Vintage German Halloween collectibles at RetroHoliday.com

For more information about Mark Ledenbach's book, Vintage Halloween Collectibles, visit http://www.squidoo.com/vintagehalloweencollectibles/

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One of the most popular categories of collectible vintage Halloween decorations is the hard plastic decorations and toys that were manufactured from the 1940s and onwards. It's primarily the vintage plastic items that are of interest to collectors, so you will mostly want to take a look at products made in the Forties and Fifties, but some later finds from the Sixties and beyond are certainly interesting as well if you want to put together a fun and whimsical collection.

Some of the brand names to take note of are Irwin, Knickerbocker, Rosen, Rosbro and Union Products, but they aren't even close to being the only companies making polystyrene and celluloid plastic novelty items for Halloween. They are just some of the most well known companies and therefore quite collectible.

Examples of some of the vintage hard plastic Halloween decorations include items like blow mold pieces in various shapes - Jack O'Lanterns, witches, and black cats are popular (and frequently together in a single piece) and many of the Halloween blow molds light up, glowing orange, especially Jack O'Lanterns, of course, but there are all kinds of shapes that are turned into lanterns as well.

But it isn't just the larger blow mold pieces that are popular. You'll also find lots of smaller items in hard plastic that are fun to collect. Look for party decorations such as cake picks, cake toppers and other small decorative pieces made to decorate cakes and cupcakes and other Halloween treats. You can also find Halloween drink stirrers for more adult parties too.

Also, keep on the lookout for hard plastic candy containers. In addition to the large ones designed for kids to take out trick or treating (the large Jack O'Lanterns with straps), there are lots of small candy containers designed for the table. You could arrange a whole collection of them on a shelf together.

In addition to items that are meant to be decorations, there are also lots of hard plastic Halloween toys. You can find lots of little roller toys that are in good condition, so if you're looking for a witch on roller skates you'll be sure to find her. Or maybe you want a ghost that pops out of a Jack O'Lantern to scare you.

If you're new to collecting vintage Halloween decorations, including the hard plastic novelties, then you'll want to take a look at some guides to vintage Halloween collectibles for some help in putting your own perfect collection together. You can get an introduction to some of my favorite Halloween items to collect at: http://www.squidoo.com/vintagehalloweencollectibles

Emma Martin collections both Halloween and Christmas collectibles, especially from the mid-century modern era.

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Beistle Halloween Decorations - Vintage Halloween Decorations From the Beistle Company

Author: Emma Martin

Halloween decorations made by The Beistle Company are some of the most popular collectibles among fans of vintage holiday decorations. Specializing in paper party supplies such as die-cuts, centerpieces and paper plates and cups, The Beistle Company has been manufacturing Halloween novelty décor and supplies since the beginning of the 20th century. Founded in Pennsylvania by Martin Beistle, The Beistle Company is still in business today and is one of the largest manufacturers of Halloween goods in the US. But for collectors, it isn't Beistle's new products that cause the most interest. It's their highly sought after vintage Halloween decorations that have become highly collectible.

Some of the vintage Beistle decorations you should be on the look-out for if you are seeking to start or add to your collection are Halloween die-cuts, lanterns and other paper products for the table. Many of the Beistle decorations feature honeycomb tissue paper so you can find items like Jack O'Lanterns with arms and legs that bounce, but due to the fragile nature of the honeycomb tissue you will want to inspect any purchases carefully and also make sure you carefully store any paper products that you buy when they aren't in use.

One thing to be aware of if you looking for Beistle Halloween decorations to add to your collection is the fact that some of their most popular vintage designs have been reproduced recently so you should be wary of unscrupulous sellers who are claiming the repro items as the original vintage products. All of the reproductions are marked with the year of production and the paper they are made out of is heavier than the paper Beistle used in the 1930s and 40s so if you are shopping in person it will be easy to spot the difference. But if, like most collectors, you are putting together your Halloween collection with online purchases and Ebay auctions, the best advice is to stick to well-known and reputable dealers who have a reputation to maintain and lots of positive feedback on their auctions.

Beistle has used various trademarks over the years and there are several to keep an eye out for when you are determining authenticity. Depending on what kind of product you are looking at, the trademarks will either be stamped, printed, labeled or embossed. The most common trademarks include: "H.E. Luhrs"; "The Beistle Company" printed signature, "Bee-Line" which may or may not include an image of a bee in flight; and the Beistle Diamond Trademark. On their tissue products you may find the "Art Tissue Westminster Bells" trademark.

Some of the most interesting of the vintage Beistle Halloween decorations available were made between the years 1900 and the early 1950s. Due to the fact that Halloween was much more of an adult oriented holiday than it is today, you'll often find that early decorations had more of a spooky aspect than the stuff made for children's Halloween parties and trick or treat outings today. So as you build your collection, it may make the most sense to stick to products manufactured in the early half of the century in order to maintain a consistent feel to your Halloween collection.

About the Author:
You can find many great examples of vintage Beistle Halloween decorations, such as the wonderful vintage Halloween die-cuts made by Beistle. And don't forget vintage Christmas lights.

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