Don't see me!

This photo of Diane Keaton and feline friend, by Annie Leibovitz, is part of an online Sotheby's auction ending July 9. Bid now...or forever hold your peace.

Source

Oh, and Happy Canada Day!

If you're from Newfoundland, this day, Memorial Day, includes somber reflections on WWI losses. Hopefully "NEVER AGAIN" remains true despite Brexit.

Diecut Bubble 2

Do you have any concerns about the assessed rarity and value of German-made diecuts in your collection? It may be of interest to view a series of earlier entries here that show a number of diecuts (formerly dated 1920s-40s) instead appeared to have been on the market in the 1950s (Halloween in Germany:1955) through the 1960s (Seven Spooks in Narrenfibel) reaching all the way to the mid-1970s  (Dead Skeletons). As a possible reflection on what may be newer perspectives, or just post-holiday doldrums, here are some interesting auction results from January 2016... that are well below typical values suggested by various guides.

Sold for $125 ($25 each) plus auction fees.

Sold for $80 ($27 each) plus auction fees.

Sold for $90 ($30 each) plus auction fees.

Sold for $0 - auction passed

Sold for $125 ($31 each) plus auction fees.

Sold for $125 ($31 each) plus auction fees.

Sold for $200 ($40 each) plus auction fees.

The last photograph is interesting in that the top two diecuts pictured have been presumed of rare 1920-1930 production dates, as mentioned above, yet recently discovered in oversea publications from a much more recent period. These two were for sale in 1965...!? (See pages below from the 1965 Einzinger Narrenfibel catalog).

It will be interesting to see how any of the diecuts fare should buyers resell through a different market. Two were already resold at roughly 3x the amount shown. There is the ongoing question of prices in relation to venue and visibility (an effect mentioned in an earlier entry Diecut Bubble?). For example, below are ten Beistle diecuts (from the same auction above) initially sold at an extremely reasonable purchase price of $275 plus fees.

Sold for $275 ($28 each) plus auction fees.

The same diecuts made their way to another venue (ebay) and were sold separately for a group total of roughly $1250! The larger $1000 portion of that amount was due solely on one very determined buyer. How do we assess the true value of these pieces? First price, second price, or would it fall somewhere in between?

There are more treats in vintage collectibles than are imagined in your Halloween dreams. If you are not keeping track of the all-too numerous items (especially items previously thought to be rare) that hit the market, then this gallery, a fraction of what becomes available, may be of interest:

Follow VINTAGE Halloween Hoards on Pinterest.

Yesterday's Prices at Today's Auctions

As stated in entry one - this blog will not be overly concerned about vintage collectible pricing, however, some recent auction results may be of interest, and just may balance a few perspectives...

Halloween's seasonal nature seems key (especially for the non-obsessed public-at-large) in determining the collectible demand of vintage items. While at times powerful, there is a historical mix of poor auction results that would seem to make the genre a rather bad "investment" --- (if you choose to think of the ghosts of holiday past in those terms). While much is made of some items reaping impressive returns, one would wonder if the genre may ever reach the skyrocketing prices seen by other collectibles --- (simply scan a pamphlet by any of the big auction houses and compare the results of other collectible genres). 

It's a real trick or treat (depending on what side of the transaction you stand) to resell vintage holiday. Seasonal peak interest is only one challenge. Availability (of both poor and quality items) is also changing with the internet lessening rarity (also challenging the belief that past generations simply discarded objects the way we do now). Mis-perception of the market creates bids without adequate personal research; while pensive sellers stall sales under a nebulous concept of reaching "true" or higher market-value. As well, more vintage-style arts and printable knock-offs now vie for attention that dilute our yearning for true vintage and/or offer items perhaps more fitting to modern expectations of artistry and/or materials.

Some recent examples show that a few auction houses had results that would likely make past winners question the value of previously won acquisitions. A couple of auction houses (including one of high profile) recently sold off large lots of Halloween postcards that averaged only a little over $10 per card. While another auction house (offering a mix of old and mis-labeled newer items) had prices for true vintage reach results more akin to some previous decade --- see examples below:

$140 or $13 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $400).

$100  or $17 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $400).

$100 or $20 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $400).

$30 (approximate lot valuation ~ $200).

$90 or $13 each --- (approximate lot valuation ~ $500).

$20 (approximate lot valuation ~ $500).

While above results aren't too shocking if you've been pursuing a "let the market determine value" attitude, you would however be sorely disappointed and even upset if you're judging the price by expected guide rules.  The lesson here perhaps for vintage Halloween collectors and sellers are these --- patience, perspective, season, quantity, quality, and knowledge.