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There’s a chill in the air, we’re craving pumpkin-spiced everything, and our kids are already on their third costume idea. Yes, Halloween season is finally upon us! But before you start digging out your Halloween decorations, carving your pumpkins, and planning your costumes, you may want to do some research.
As it turns out, there are many vintage Halloween decorations that are actually worth some serious money! If you were planning on weeding out some of your stash this year, hold that thought. It’s time to do a little inventory of what you have and find out just how valuable your Halloween decorations truly are before you let go of a potential goldmine.
What vintage Halloween decorations are valuable now?
Vintage Halloween decor has been trending for months leading up to October this year, a sure sign that after last year’s lackluster holiday (thanks, COVID) people are ready to go big or go home. A simple witch’s broom propped up against a bowl of mini Snickers on the porch is just not going to cut it. Instead, people are feeling more nostalgic than ever for a time when Halloween was truly ghoulish.
We rounded up some of the most astoundingly expensive vintage Halloween decorations we could find. If you have any of these stored away in your home, you may want to cash in.
1. Peerless light-up Jack O’Lanterns
Peerless (formerly known as Peerless Tree Lite Co.) was founded in 1892 by three brothers. According to the company website (yes, they’re still around 129 years later!) the brothers were all inventors, “holding over 50 patents between them.”
In the 1960’s they developed some of the first Jack O’Lanterns you could plug into an outlet and light up with electricity. If you’re fortunate to have an original that still works, it could be worth anywhere from $200 to $450 (like this one with devil and skeleton heads).
2. Vintage yard and sidewalk signs
Cutesy little Halloween signs are all the rage this year, specifically ones that are reminiscent of a bygone era. This vintage Halloween sign featuring a black cat emerging from a pumpkin is 28″ tall and in good condition. It’s also being sold for an incredible $395!
3. Movie and TV props
Think that random movie or television set prop you acquired wouldn’t interest anyone much? Think again! This bottle of “Jinsonweed” made to look like it’s from a witch’s home was originally a prop from the TV show The Librarians. An ideal piece of cute Halloween decor, it is being sold now for $297.
4. Old school noisemakers
Halloween is the ultimate holiday for causing mischief and mayhem, and has been since the early 20th century. Vintage wooden noisemakers were especially common in the 1920s and ’30s and are now worth quite a bit of money. If your family passed these down through the years, you may want to bring them to an auctioneer to see what they would be valued at now. We’ve seen ones sold anywhere from $75 to $150.
5. Candy pails and buckets
Gone are the days of pillowcases doubling as trick-or-treating candy buckets, friends. Now it’s all about the vintage candy pail. From this Frankenstein pail from the 1960s that sold for $575 to this 1979 Incredible Hulk one priced at $199, they are a hot commodity. Even this Pizza Hut Halloween bucket from 1986 could net you $130! (Man, that just made us feel real old.)
How can you find out the value of your vintage Halloween decorations?
Forget Party City and your local Halloween store, if you are in the market to buy or sell a vintage Halloween decoration and you don’t know what it’s worth, you need to go to the experts.
Search online
There are lots of online resources now that can not only help you find out the worth of your vintage Halloween decorations, but simplify the selling process. Sites like Rubylane, 1stdibs, and JustAnswer Appraisals, are all great places to start. In addition, you can check out sites like eBay, though you’re not guaranteed that all the information will be accurate.
Ask the experts directly
When in doubt, research well-reviewed experts in your area and contact them directly. “In addition to online services and search engines, it is possible to find out how much your antiques are worth by simply asking an antique dealer or an appraiser at an auction house, for instance,” Nicolas Martin, flea market expert and founder of Flea Market Insiders, told MarthaStewart.com.
Tips for collecting vintage Halloween decorations
If you’ve realized you’re not ready to part with your beloved vintage Halloween decorations (or if this post is inspiring you to start collecting), here are a few things to keep in mind.
Take inventory of what you have
Climb up into that dusty attic and unbox all the things. Take stock of all you truly have before investing in anything else. Not only will your wallet thank you, but you’d be surprised what you’ve held on to without knowing it.
Connecticut mom Kerry M. told Mom.com that when her mother-in-law moved into an assisted living facility, she and her husband were tasked with selling her mother’s house and downsizing her belongings.
“I wanted to just throw out all the so-called ‘junk’ because to me, that’s what it seemed like!” said Kerry. “Until I happened to go online for something else and saw a vase that looked exactly like hers being sold for over $300. I decided to be more thoughtful before throwing anything else away and ended up selling thousands of dollars worth of random items. We put the money towards the cost of her care and I felt like I gave those items a second life.”
Expand on your current items
If you have even one vintage piece that is worth money (or may be worth money in the future), look for items that may be similar but not exactly the same. If you can bundle your items for sale later, you could earn even more money rather than selling individually.
Do your research
Do not overpay for something that won’t grow in value over time. For something to be worth legitimate value later, it must be a rare fun find. Be sure you know what’s out there, what’s worth the money, and skip anything that’s oversaturated the market.
