About
THe Halloween Retrospect
Archive Library
The Halloween Retrospect archive library has earlier roots – out of a time (some twenty years ago) when average collectors had greater potential in the second-hand market (given fewer spells of price distortions) to develop interesting collections from modest budgets. It was also a time (circa 1990’s) when survey books and critic/seller connections supplied the majority of information (right or wrong) about the vintage market, before digital media (at once both new yet stumped by the past) further complicated narratives. Regardless, the scrappy years resulted in a collection of numerous anomalies, prompting this collector to write a research blog without prescribed boundaries; and this was the 2014 introduction of The Sane Halloween Observer.
In 2018, coinciding with dwindling blog entries, the blog’s author began working toward a Master Degree in Library and Information Science (2021), and whenever possible utilized an on-hand collection of diverse holiday objects in personal studies – enhancing perspectives on the state of such objects, of information and discovery tools, as well as informing methods sought for future projects. This began a process, not only for better archival management, but also for competent publications organization as a functional library. As it turned out, those print (and digital) records proved to be important primary sources, and thus began The Halloween Retrospect (2023) as a serialized digest publication of research, followed recently by a new art-book Halloween Artifacts (2024) with the same attention to data sources.
Following admirable examples of Lavin* and Truwe** (see below) the archive library’s new series, both The Halloween Retrospect, and Halloween Artifacts, lean toward research rather than speculative assurances for rarity, price, and merit. Instead, these books offer meticulous analysis on featured subjects. To do so, study originates by way of manufacturer, distributor, or trade-specific publications across formats (books to pamphlets) from 1900 to 1979 depending on conversations around certain discoveries. A clear example of this process can bee seen in a study of Dennison MFG Co serial number data in THR, VOL 2.
Aaron Wiley, Halloween Ephemera by: Joanna Hauser – February 16, 2024, Filed to: Collector Spotlight, Otherworldly.
The THR archive library includes the following information objects that directly portray Halloween consumer goods of the vintage market (as of date: February 1, 2025)
Around 610 vintage publications with 268 on-hand & 342 verifiable surrogates
as 513 publications with definitive dates, with 82 crude, and 15 a bit more obscure
as 110 professional entities from the U.S. with 6 originating from other countries
and an as yet uncounted # of relevant materials – books, magazines, ads, etc.
And now, on to the shelves…!
PLEASE NOTE: THR does NOT employ AI-generative technology. Content is created by human biological entities to ensure results engage accurate research with mindful artistry.
Featured Resources
from the Archive Library
* Claire M. Lavin
Claire M. Lavin “Timeless Halloween Collectibles: 1920-1949” (2005). Also see the author’s 2006 publication: “Time for Halloween Decorations.” See blog entry.
** Ben Truwe
Ben Truwe “The Halloween Catalog Collection: 55 Catalogs from the Golden Age of Halloween” (2003). Book/CD out of print. See blog entry.
In-house Titles
of Source Review
1st Volume, Halloween Artifacts
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