Excerpts from our long-established personal vintage Halloween collection representing the high watermark of condition and rarity.
We periodically add photographs as we maintain our archive.
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- Invitation on cardstock with original envelope, USA, Whitney Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, early 1920s, 4.75″ h x 2.5″ w
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- Invitation on cardstock with original envelope, USA, Whitney Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, early 1920s, 2.5″ h x 4.75″ w,
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- Set of four JOL invitations, USA, Dennison, (printed name), first appeared in their 1925 Bogie Book, 3″ h x 3″ w (closed).
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- This Hallowe’en invitation box has outstanding graphics. It’s not marked but the JOLs along the edges and the use of a fat font are hallmarks of early Dennison. Measures 4.5″ h x 5⁄8″ w x 5.5″ l.
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- Enveloped set of 5 Hallowe’en Invitations, USA, Beistle, (no mark), 1918-1922. Envelope: 5” h x 4” w. Contents: 3.25″ square (unopened). This is perhaps the earliest Beistle packaging I’ve seen. Beistle issued these folding invitations during the span 1918-1925. This set represents the earliest and rarest of the iterations. It’s devoid of the detailed artwork that festooned the later Party Helps enveloped set. Beistle’s first inclination was to issue things in somewhat plain envelopes, with envelopes getting more ornate during the production run. Beistle’s Hallowe’en Party Helps, 1923-1925, contained six folding invitations. Beistle’s boxed and enveloped sets Hallowe’en Party Decorations and Hallowe’en Party Decorations Children’s Hallowe’en Party Book, copyrighted 1923, consisting of thirty pieces for a party of four, contained four punch-out invitations printed on one side only.
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- Complete boxed set of 6 Novelty Invitations and 6 Envelopes, USA, Beistle, (no mark), late 1920s. When opened the old witch pops up. Box: 5.25″ h x 4.5″ w. Invitation: 5.75″ h x 6″ w (open). Shown are two invitations (one open and one closed) and one envelope.
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- Tri-fold invitation with witch chasing sprite, USA, Dennison, first appeared in their 1921 Bogie Book, 3.25″ square (closed). This was sold with stock number H77.
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- Cat busting through scroll invitation, USA, Dennison, (printed name), first appeared in their 1929 Price List pamphlet, 3.75” x 3.5” w. Note the unpunched section mid-right side.
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- Tri-fold invitation with startled boy peeking through fence, USA, Dennison, first appeared in their 1920 Bogie Book, 3″ h x 4.25″ w (closed).
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- Enveloped set of 5 Assorted Invitations, USA, Beistle, (no mark), 1918-1920. This is perhaps the earliest Beistle packaging I’ve seen. Beistle produced three versions of these folding invitations with subtle design and packaging variations during the span 1918-1925. This set represents the earliest and rarest of the iterations and probably dates to 1918. The envelope is made of a noticeably heavier card stock. Envelope: 5″ h x 4″ w. Invitations: 4.5″ h x 2.5″ w (closed).
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- Tri-fold invitation with two arched-back black cats-on-a-fence fighting, USA, Dennison, 1920s, 2.5″ h x 3.75″ w (closed).
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- Enveloped set of Four Assorted Hallowe’en Folding Invitations, USA, Beistle, (no mark), 1918-1922. These tri-fold invitations were issued during the span 1918-1922. This set represents the earliest singular iteration. Two Halloween party sets: Complete Party Outfit boxed set, 1918, consisting of seventy-four pieces for a party of eight and Complete Party Outfit enveloped set, 1922, consisting of thirty-five pieces for a party of four contained eight and four assorted invitations respectively. Envelope: 7.5″ h x 5″ w. Invitations: 3″ h x 8.25″ w (opened). JOLs: 3″ h x 2.75″ w. Beistle assigned stock number 610 X to this set.
