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WHAT’S SELLING ONeBay
WHAT’S SELLING ONeBay

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$543 (26 bids, 18 bidders): Antique 1920s Halloween Dennison & $1,435 (9 bidders, 23 bids):
Beistle Bat, Cat, and Witch Crepe Paper Die Cuts. When we were Antique Russell and Morgan
searching the internet, we found another example of the Sinister Devil Bat Bicycle Playing Cards 808 Red
Die Cut that was produced by Beistle between 1925 and 1931. It was in Backs. Full deck of antique Russell
much better condition and recently sold for $970. The Devil Bat in this and Morgan Bicycle playing cards.
auction has some issues; one wing has been reattached, and both of his feet No joker. The cards are in extremely
have had some restorations. One horn also has a crease. He measures fine condition. I note only four that
9 inches tall with a 19-inch wide wingspan. have what appears to be a very small
The next two pieces are accor- red ink smudge, probably as manu-
dion crepe paper hangers also made factured. The lid of the box has
by Beistle. The Witch is in very become detached and there’s a 3/4-
good condition and measures inch tear on one side.
approximately 22 inches long and Just like Bicycle playing cards
has some creasing to the hat, but today, the boxes are very flimsy, so
that’s it. The Cat also measures most of them didn't survive. I guess
approximately 22 inches long and is the reddish-brown one is one not
in very good condition; however, often seen and thus very coveted by
one of the accordion crepe paper collectors. (Photos courtesy of
arms is attached but almost eBay seller sftom.)
separated on one side.
Lastly are 4 “flat” die cuts and in PH: Russell & Morgan began
good but used condition. They all issuing brands of playing cards in
have creases and pinholes. The one 1881, the company name changed
featuring the witch riding the black to The United States Printing
cat is marked “Dennison Company in 1891 and to The
USA” and measures United States Playing Card
11 inches wide by 9 inches Company in 1894 and remains in
tall. All seven pieces of business. The “808” denotes the
Halloween decorations in Bicycle brand, and there are other 3-digit numbers to denote other brands.
this auction are guaran- Bicycle cards have been issued in 80 different back designs. This one is
teed to be from the first the Thistle pattern and was introduced in 1899, discontinued in 1939,
and came in both blue and red. The elves featured were taken from designs
of the New York Consolidated Company that merged with US Playing
Card. Given the ace is printed with the Russel & Morgan Printing
part of the 20th century Company name, the cards would have been issued the first year of
and not vintage reproduc- production before the name change to US Printing Co.
tions from the 1960s-70s. The deck includes the second style Ace card with the wheel motif, and
(Photos courtesy of eBay the deck should include a Joker card of a rider on a high-wheel bicycle but
seller wwolst12.) included no printing on the card.
This seller did very well with this deck of cards as similar age decks run in the
PH: Halloween began to $300-$500 range.
be recognized as a formida-
ble holiday in the 1890s, $2,938 (16 bids, 4 bidders): 18 x 10-inch Antique Art Nouveau Swiss
and soon companies such Black Forest Wood Carved Bear, Brienz c. 1900. Beautiful carved black
as Dennison Mfg. of bear, 18 inches long and around 18 inches tall with glass eyes and dust.
Framingham, MA, and My father was stationed overseas after World War II, and this was
Beistle of Shippensburg, his treasure that he brought back. It sat on his mantle over the years and
PA, became the premier collected a lot of
makers of Halloween dust. Then after his
accouterments. Dennison death, it moved to my
even produced the Bogie mantle, and now, you
Book – a guide to Hallo- can own it. It needs
ween entertaining with menus, game ideas, cocktail recipes, and the like. some easy touch-up,
The decorations have become hotcollectibles, and pristine and/or rare which I could do, but
examples command big prices compared to what they originally sold for. that would take away
Prices for these crepe paper fold-out decorations can be expensive if in from its beauty.
good condition. This lot of seven pieces (die cuts and crepe), given the (Photos courtesy of
condition, sold at a fair price for buyer and seller. trixie_prettygirl.)

8 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles