Finding Vintage Halloween Costumes and Decorations for Sale
Searching Out Vintage Halloween Collectibles
When I started exploring the world of collectibles, it didn't take long to realize that a lot of people form a special connection to holidays. I was a little bit surprised to find out how many folks really love Halloween collectibles. Almost anything old that has to do with Halloween will attract the attention of someone, but there are a few hard to find items that people search for relentlessly. Some of the most sought after vintage Halloween items include vintage Halloween costumes, vintage Halloween postcards and greeting cards, vintage Halloween masks and almost any vintage Halloween decorations that are in decent shape. These are very popular on eBay because not many non-collectors realize that the old Halloween decor in their attic is worth anything. These old items often end up in the trash because homeowners figure that no one would even want to buy these things at a garage sale. Now when I look for these second hand treasures, I focus on estate sales, and even there, they are pretty tough to find.
Vintage Halloween Costumes
If I had realized when I was a kid that vintage Halloween costumes were going to become collectible, I would have at least tried to keep mine in decent shape. I remember that I managed to damage just about every one of those old 70's costumes I wore. I would either fall down on someone's steps or try to escape the costume without taking my shoes off. That was usually sufficient to get my Mom upset with me. It seems that these old vintage costumes are popular again. There are tons of vintage Halloween costumes for sale now that have probably been in storage for many years now. I'm sure there have to also be tons of old deadstock costumes stashed away someplace that never sold during their original run. I'm guessing that it is people around my age who remember these classic costumes from when they were kids that are leading the charge to find them online. Just think of all those store bought costumes with the masks that did their best to cover your eyes and the elastic string that always managed to snap you on the ear a few times before finally snapping...Memories!
Not all vintage Halloween costumes are created equal. If you check out eBay, you will see many people putting their old costumes up for sale at high prices only to watch them go without a single bid. There are some brands that are much more collectible than others. One of the most collectible names in vintage Halloween costumes is Ben Cooper. Old Halloween costumes manufactured by Ben Cooper, Inc. are highly collectible. This brand gained its original popularity back around the 1940s and continued to produce those low cost costumes you used to find in cardboard boxes up through the 1980s. The eventually succumbed to bankruptcy, but the interest in the costumes is still there. A few of the current listings for these popular old costumes are shown below, but they are not the only collectible brand. Collectors should also be sure keep an eye out for vintage Collegeville Costumes. They were one of the main competitors for Ben Cooper, Inc. and some of them are also quite collectible today.
Ben Cooper Costumes for Sale
 |
 Vintage Ben Cooper Super Hero Superman Costume and Mask w Original Box CC201  US $.99 |  Ben Cooper Wild Wild Amimal Costume ZEBRA Size Small US $.99 |
 SPIDERMAN THE MUSICAL BROADWAY PLAYBILL MINT US $.99 |  1977 BEN COOPER STAR WARS C3PO COSTUME MASK GOLDEN ROBOT VINTAGE US $.99 |
| Second Hand |
Vintage Halloween Postcards
I fully intend to do an entire post just on vintage postcards in the near future. As a collectible, vintage and antique postcards are huge. For now though, I'd like to mention one specific and very special type of collectible postcard that trumps almost every other one out there. I'm talking about vintage Halloween postcards. There was a time when sending and collecting postcards was an extremely popular hobby. Some people collected thousands of these old treasures and carefully stored them away. The artwork is often quite stunning, and it isn't uncommon to find these old postcards in very nice condition for their age. If you are very lucky in your treasure hunting, you may find boxes of these at estate sales, but they are more likely to show up in an auction format. If they are being sold in bulk, be sure to inspect the individual cards before bidding too much.
Just as with almost any collectible, there are some brands and styles of Halloween postcard that do better than others. Depending on the maker, the artist, the condition, the age, or the subject matter of the card, prices could range from a few dollars, well into the hundreds. Postcards that are signed by the artist are a big draw. Images of black cats, witches, or pumpkins will also get the attention of collectors who prize those particular subjects on their postcards. Searches and sales for vintage Halloween postcards peak as the holiday approaches, but they are usually available for sale at almost any time of the year. Here are a few of the postcards currently available on eBay.
Vintage Halloween Postcards for Sale
|
 Halloween Antique Postcard Vintage Jack O Lantern Child Ghost Crows Whitney Made US $3.00 |  Witches Brew Jolly Halloween Postcard 1922 US $4.69 |
 Vintage Ellen Clapsaddle Halloween Artist Signed Postcard US $5.50 |  Vintage 1909 Vegetable Halloween Postcard US $6.95 |
| Second Hand |
Vintage Halloween Masks
Some people look for vintage Halloween masks as a part of an entire costume set. Other people though, just like to collect those scary old latex masks that fit over your head. Some of the most popular vintage masks were created by Don Post or Don Post Studios. This is the original company that made these creepy masks that entirely hide not just your face, but your entire head. If you have ever gone out on Halloween, you have surely seen many of these masks, you probably just didn't realize that they are pretty darn collectible. People do search for vintage masks from other makers too, but overall, if you are looking for something collectible, Don Post masks are the way to go.
Vintage Halloween Decorations
Kids love to decorate for Halloween. Not too surprisingly, many adults do too. Some adults really go all out when their favorite holiday rolls around at the end of October. One of my neighbors starts preparing his house for Halloween weeks in advance. We usually put up some Halloween decor and a big inflatable pumpkin in the front yard. My personal favorite thing to do is to carve Jack O'Lanterns. But I digress... There are many collectors who like to display vintage Halloween decorations. These are hard core Halloween lovers who are willing to spend their money to get exactly the look they want on October 31st. There is no denying that vintage decor from the 1920s and 1930s has a totally different look to it than what you would buy at a Halloween store in your local mall today. I have to admit that I like the whole art deco look that they bring. Large plastic decorations that hang from the front door can sell for hundreds of dollars, but there are far too many vintage Halloween decorations out there to list them all individually. If you are a Halloween fan, they are certainly worth checking out. vintage Halloween decorations can give your home that special touch that will really make it stand out as people trick or treat through your neighborhood.
Happy Halloween!
As holidays go, Halloween really has a solid following. There is a lot of collecting that goes on related to the holiday. I might post a bit about a few other related topics soon. One thing I learned as I was searching for information about this topic was that we might speak "English" in the United 
States, but it is not necessarily the same language spoken across the Atlantic Ocean. I kept running into the phrase "fancy dress" and it was only after a bit of research and checking out completed listings on eBay that I figured out that the phrase was referring to dressing up for Halloween. I grew up in America and that expression, for me, just means putting on "good" clothes. If you are selling an old costume on eBay, and will accept international bids, you may want to consider putting the term "fancy dress" into your title to get the attention of a few more buyers!
It seems like people right now are showing a lot of interest in costumes from the 70s and 80s. Old KISS costumes are a hot seller, and anything that is still in its original box is getting attention. If you are going to look for some of these old costumes, be aware that some people listing in this category have a rather liberal interpretation of what qualifies as vintage. The generally recognized standard is 25 years with most merchandise. As I'm checking now, there are several items listed that were made since the turn of the new century and during the 90s. It isn't that there is anything wrong with them, they just are not actually all that old. With costumes though, I can see the reasoning. What was a hot costume idea one year could be completely gone the next. That means you will have to do some searching to find it.
Category: Home and Garden, old collectibles
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
