Vintage Halloween Collectibles, 2nd Edition

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By Barbara Crews, About.com Guide

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Vintage Halloween Collectibles

Krause Publications

The Bottom Line

I can't imagine any serious or wanna-be serious Halloween collector not having/wanting both of Mark B. Ledenbach's books in their library.

The Dean of Halloween knows his stuff and is the Halloween expert that even the most knowledgeable of collectors go to for help. His first book is widely cited in print, online and in Halloween auctions. This book, the 2nd edition, will soon be another go-to book for collectors and experts alike.

You won't be disappointed, I guarantee it!

Pros

1,100 Professional Photographs
Reproduction and Fantasy Information
Must-Have Book for Halloween Collectors

Cons

Absolutely None

Description

Over 250 pages of fun browsing with superb photographs and excellent descriptions.
Easy-to-use scarcity index can help collectors decide if it's wise to buy an item or perhaps wait for a better piece/price.
What to collect and what to beware of? Watch out for "warehouse finds" from Eastern Germany.
What will Mark never have in his collection? "Tiresome, hard plastic!"
Sections: Games, Lanterns and Shades, Candy Containers, Diecuts, Noisemakers, Decorations, Miscellaneous, Inner Sanctum.
The Inner Sanctum section has amazing pieces, many that could be considered the Holy Grails for most collectors.

Guide Review - Vintage Halloween Collectibles, 2nd Edition

There's not much I can add to the review of Ledenbach's first book Vintage Halloween Collectibles, the second volume is just as good and a perfect companion. Although a few items are repeated in the second edition, there are more than enough new additions to make it worth your time and money to have both books handy for reference.

One of the best parts of browsing through Vintage Halloween Collectibles is discovering all the hard-to-find books and games, stuff that I didn't know existed and would love to add to my small collection. I now have lots of quests, but the Fairy Clock diecut has to be near the top of the list!

As mentioned in my review of the first book, when something starts becoming "very collectible". reproductions soon follow. With Halloween items, since many consumers just want the look and feel of nostalgic items, current companies have been adding lines of vintage-look Halloween items. These are not made to fool a collector, but are produced for the person who decorates for the holiday. Unfortunately these can be confusing to a new collector, especially one who purchases online. Along with these decorative pieces, there are also numerous reproductions and fantasy items made that are marketed as vintage.

Ledenbach's books are not only a pictorial feast, the documentation provided will be invaluable for both the expert and novice collector of Halloween memorabilia.

Also see:

Vintage Halloween Collectibles, Book 1